Little and Big - Parshat  Pekudei

In preparation for any special event, there are many things that need to get done. It doesn’t matter so much who actually does them. They need to get done. After the event, there are many people to thank. We often succeed in remembering those who helped with the little things as much as those who helped with the big things or even the professionals who did their job. The little things are also important.

In finishing the building of the Tabernacle (MIshkan), the Torah notes the contributions of everyone. Everything that God wanted done, got done. All the labor that God had commanded was completed.1 But the Torah doesn’t stop there. It continues and says that Moshe saw all the work that was done as God had commanded.2

The Malbim notes the use of different words, work and labor, in the two passages and comments that these two different words represent two different groups of people. The first group included the whole nation. They did exactly as ordered. They brought all the material that was asked for and did so with a feeling of altruism. They may have also helped clean up clippings or other work that was necessary. This was as God had commanded. The second group were the artisans. They, too, did as commanded and created a beautiful Tabernacle that was made with heartfelt love.

Why, though, were they not all included together in one general mention? I believe that the Torah equates the unheralded and simple labor of the masses to the artistic and professional work of the few. The Torah even mentions the simple work ahead of that of the artisans. Simple work is not less important and should not be overlooked

There is a famous story told about the Rebbe of Sadigora. During the Holocaust, he and other Jews from his town were forced to clean the streets of Vienna. He made a promise to God that he would even clean streets if were to reach the land of Israel. Years after the Holocaust, he was discovered cleaning the streets of Tel Aviv. It was not demeaning to him nor did he consider it beneath his honor or station. On the contrary, it had the highest meaning for him 

Everyone, every single person has a place and a meaning.3 (This week, a student mentioned in class that she saw a poster saying:"your birthday is the day that God decided the world could no longer do without you.") If you do it with love, if you do it with honor, if you do it with passion, it is yours. Whether cleaning the streets, discovering the next galaxy or designing furniture for the head of state.

How willing are we to actually do what we might ordinarily consider demeaning yet in order to achieve our goals we would do it happily and consider it the highest honor? You give your actions meaning. Your attitude is what determines the height (or depth)of your activity.

Your call.

 

Notes

*Picture by Peter Fjellstedt on wikimedia

  1. Shemot 39:42
  2. Ibid. 43
  3. Viktor Frankl spelled out this concept many times - most famously in his bestseller, Man's Search for Meaning

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

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