Account Your Blessings

 Imagine if you made a contract with Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses) himself to build you a building.   You pay him upfront and he delivers the building exactly as planned.  Would you ask him to account for the money and tell you exactly how he used every piece of material he bought?  I think that with anyone else, maybe you would, but not Moshe!  Yet, in this week’s Parsha, we read that Moshe gave a detailed accounting of how he used all the materials that were donated for the building of the Mishkan (sanctuary).  There are many commentaries on this, and many lessons we can learn from Moshe’s example.

On a basic level, Moshe teaches us that we should never take it for granted that people trust our honesty.  It is not enough that Hashem knows that you are honest and righteous.  It is also important to ensure that we appear that way to others.  This is an important principle in the Torah.  It’s not ok to go through life disregarding the impact we have on others.  It’s not ok to say: Who cares what others think?  As the late Rabbi Lapin, Rabbi of Congregation Am Echad for many years, used to say in his inimitable South African accent: Not only must it be correct, it must also appear to be correct.

There is also a mystical message to each of us in our daily lives.  Moshe is building a Mishkan to create a “home” for Hashem in this world.  When Hashem gave the commandment to build it, he said: Make a holy building for me and I will dwell within them.”  Meaning that in addition to the physical building that traveled with the Jews in the desert, and the subsequent Holy Temple in Jerusalem, each of us should create a “sanctuary” for Hashem within ourselves.  The physical buildings were built of physical materials that were transformed into a holy place for Hashem’s presence to be revealed.  Similarly, each of us should transform our physical resources into vehicles to reveal Hashem’s presence.  We do this by using our material possessions, as well as our abilities and talents, to better the world and to further the mission that Hashem has given each of us.

Moshe is teaching us that we should be sure to use all of our possessions and talents for this purpose.  We should make an honest accounting of everything that Hashem blessed us with, and we should be able to account for how it is all being used to make the world a home for Hashem.  

This message is particularly relevant at this very difficult time, when large numbers of innocent people are facing death and destruction in Ukraine.  It is important for us to use whatever resources we have to improve the situation for our brothers and sisters in need.  (You can donate directly to help people in Ukraine here.)  In addition, it is important for us to remember that darkness is dispelled by light, and every Mitzvah that we do, even on the other side of the world, helps bring goodness and peace to the world.  Are there any resources that we can bring to bear, whether material or spiritual, to make a difference?  As we read Parshat Pekudei, let’s make a true assessment and do everything we can.