BETZALEL'S PASSION

Throughout this week's parsha the Torah records all that had been done to construct the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary in the desert. And repeatedly the Torah states: "and he made.", without specifying who made that particular part of the Mishkan. This lack of specificity leads us to the conclusion that it refers to the Mishkan's main architect, Betzalel. However, the difficulty with this : why is his name mentioned explicitly only in reference to the building of the Ark.

Rashi seems to have anticipated this question when he writes that "Betzalel dedicated himself conscientiously more than the other wise men, it was therefore named after him."

The difficulty that remains is: Why was he more conscientious about the Ark than all the other parts of the Mishkan?

One answer is that the Ark was indeed unique. The Mishkan was built as a dwelling place for G-d and was to be the place where all those who would enter would feel G-d's presence in a palpable way. However, it was the Ark specifically through which G-d communicated to Moses, and which testified to the His presence in the Mishkan.

Moreover, the Mishkan was built as a sign that G-d had forgiven the people for the sin of the golden calf, through which the Divine presence became more distant from them. Now, with the building of the Mishkan, and specifically the Ark, it bore testimony that G-d had completely forgiven them and was willing to dwell in their midst once more.

We can now appreciate why Betzalel was so partial to the building of the Mishkan in general and the construction of the Ark in particular. There was nothing more precious to him than the return of the Divine presence that was affected by the Ark.

But, the question still persists. Surely, there were other righteous people who appreciated the holiness of the Ark, as well as the incredible kindness and compassion of G-d that He was willing to ignore their past indiscretion and to reconnect to them by way of the Ark. Why, of all the good people that were instrumental in the construction of the Ark, did Betzalel feel this unparalleled  emotional attachment?

The answer is alluded to in the way the Torah introduces Betzalel: "Betzalel the son of Uri the son of Chur." Why does the Torah have to mention his grandfather in describing who he was, unlike his companion Ahaliav where the Torah just mentions his father's name?

In truth, the answer to this question will shed light on Betzalael's unique attachment to the Ark.

Chur, Betzalel's  grandfather, was one of the leaders of the Jewish people. He was the son of Miriam, Moses' sister and enjoyed Moses' confidence. When Moses alighted the mountain to receive the Torah, he put Chur and Aaron in charge of the people, as recorded in the Book of Exodus. After the story of the golden calf we no longer find his name mentioned. What happened to him?

Our Sages tell us that us that when the instigators of the golden calf approached him with their idea of its construction, he took strong exception to this "project." They could not take his militant stance against the golden calf and they killed him. In other words, Chur gave his life in the attempt to prevent the grave sin of the golden calf which "drove" G-d away from the Jewish people.

Betzalel, thus, felt an especially keen sense of attachment to that which reversed the effects of the golden calf. He therefore experienced great affinity to the Ark, the very antithesis of the idolatrous calf. Betzalel was imbued with the devotion to G-d's presence in this world as was his grandfather Chur. His name is therefore mentioned as the one who constructed the Ark.

This devotion to the construction of the Ark as a reversal of the golden calf is relevant to the mission of our generation in particular. We have witnessed the greatest removal of G-d's presence from this world as a result of the many anti-religious and anti-Jewish movements that have sprung up in the last two centuries. All these isms, spearheaded in many instances by rebellious Jews are the modern version of the Jewish people constructing a golden calf to worship, and in many ways they represent a reenactment of the golden calf debacles. G-d has been "pushed" out of the consciousness of the world because of these movements.

However, there have been many Churs and Betzalels who have dedicated their lives to reverse this trend by resisting these movements and by building Sanctuaries and Arks, literally and figuratively, that reintroduce
G-d to the world and the world to G-d. And it is these efforts that will result in the coming of Moshiach when the Temple will be rebuilt and the Ark restored to its place.

At that time, honorable mention will extend to the Churs of the world who fought the anti-G-d forces of society, and especially to the Betzalels who were proactive in paving the way for Moshiach; those who do not give up in their pleas to G-d and their G-dly actions to bring the Redemption and make the world a "dwelling place" for Him.