PEKUDE 1984

In the Torah portion Pekude we learn how the Jewish people contributed to the construction of the Mishkan.  There were three separate donations.  One was the half a shekel which everyone gave for the daily sacrifices which were given twice a day in the community's name.  Nobody could give more or less.  We also learn about the second half shekel which was given for the foundations of the Temple.  The silver sockets in which the pillars which held up the Tabernacle were inserted.  Here, too, no one could give more than half a shekel or less.  There was a third offering which was a free will offering, and everybody could give whatever he could give.  This is the way synagogues have always been run.  Everyone has a voice in it and no one should have a bigger voice in it just because they have money.  As long as a person pays the basic fee of half a shekel, or in our day, the half or one percent of income, then they have an equal voice.  People who have more should give more, but this does not entitle them to have their opinion prevail all the time.  Everyone is allowed a say.  We learn here, too, how the two main architects of the Mishkan and craftsmen were B'Tzalel of the Tribe of Judah, and Oholeeav, son of Achisomoch from the Tribe of Dan.  B'Tzalel came from a very important tribe who were known for their religiosity.  Oholeeav came from the Tribe of Dan, which the Rabbis say even practiced idol worship, yet they both had a share in the Temple.  No Jew is to be excluded from the synagogue.  We also learn how, when all the articles and parts of the Mishkan were finished, they were brought to Moshe because only he could see the whole picture.  Everyone else was interested only in their special interest, and, of course, if everyone only was interested in their own special interest to the detriment of the whole, the whole institution would collapse.  Families or institutions and even countries must always be run by seeing the whole picture.  It is like a rocket.  If a rocket has three engines and only one or two of them are working, or if one is working much stronger than the others, the rocket will turn on its nose and disintegrate.  Moshe was able to see everything in proportion and, therefore, was able to put the Tabernacle, the House of G‑d, together in the proper way.  In marriage, too, things must always be held in perspective.  When a young couple are building their own house they must put things in the proper perspective otherwise it will fall down upon them.  They must realize that neither of them is doing the other a favor when they get married.  They marry because they need each other.  When the Tabernacle was finished it says that the cloud of glory filled it and it says that Moshe was not able to come into the tent because the cloud rested on it.  Why should this be so?  We learn in other places that when the cloud filled the Mishkan Moshe went in and talked to G‑d.  What's more, what is the symbolism of the fact that G‑d's presence was symbolized by a cloud in the daytime and by a pillar of fire at night?  In life, many times, even when it is good there are clouds.  We must prepare when times are good for when times will not be good.  A part of the marriage relationship is to have the courage even when the times are good to help prepare for the times which may be bad, but even when times are good there are little clouds.  They must be seen and they must be dealt with in the right way if progress is to be made and the marriage is to endure.  That's why it says that the House of Israel traveled according to the cloud.  It uses the expression "house" here which is unusual.  Usually is uses the expression "children" or "sons of", but the Jewish people can only make progress when they have families, when they have households.  The symbol of fire at night is to teach us that one of the responsibilities of marriage for each of the partners in it is to give hope and courage to each other when times are bad, to be there when you are needed, to give enthusiasm and light and warmth to each other.  The Tabernacle symbolized the marriage between G‑d and Israel, and it was a priority item to the Jewish people.  So, too, for a marriage to be successful a couple must put their marriage as the very first of their priorities.  If it is second or third behind a career or sports or hobbies, it will not survive, but if it is a priority item for the couple and if they help each other with the clouds of life and give each other warmth and enthusiasm and support during the dark periods, then it will endure and be a great blessing for them, as the Tabernacle was for the Jewish people.  I am reminded of the story they tell about the man who, in order to prove his love for his wife, decided to climb the highest mountain, swim the widest river, cross the hottest desert.  Of course, the marriage ended in divorce because he was never home.  Give each other time.  Sometimes if the clouds are too heavy, as was the case when the Mishkan was dedicated, give each other a little breathing room, but always be there when you are needed.  Moshe could not go in the first day, but the other days he was always there.