Pekudei – 2016

 

·        The Parsha describes the details of building the Mishkan and all the items in it, done by Moshe supervising Itamar, Betzalel, Ohaliav, and the other people of Klal Yisroel.

·        Shemos 39:33 – “They brought the Mishkan to Moshe – the Ohel and all its vessels… the covering… the Paroches, the Aron Ha-Aidus… the Shulchan…the Lechem Hapanim, the pure Menorah..”

·        And then the Mishkan was completed. 40:33:

Vayechal Moshe et haMalacha – and Moshe completed the work

Vayechas ha-anon et ohel moed – the cloud covered the Ohel Moed

uKavod Hashem Malay et Hamishkan – and the Glory of Hashem filled the Mishkan

 

·        There is an important principle shown here.

·        When the physical world reaches a condition of completeness and perfection – Shlaimus - then the door to the spiritual is opened, and the Shechenah can enter.

 

·        We say this idea every Friday evening when we make Kiddush, by quoting from the Chumash:

·        Breshis 2:1 - The heaven and earth were finished… On the seventh day Hashem completed His work which He had done, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.  Hashem blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.

 

·        Every Friday evening we regard the 6 day work week as complete and then feel that rush of Ruchnius enter our homes and our lives.

·        This is said in the 4th Commandment:

·        Shemos 20:9 – You may work six days, and do all your work… For in six days Hashem made the heaven and the earth… Therefore Hashem blessed the Shabbos and made it holy.

 

·        This Shlaimus is also represented by the two ‘complete’ loaves of bread that we begin our Shabbos meals with.

·        The word Shalom in the phrase Shabbat Shalom carries with it both the meaning of peace and rest, and also Shlaimus, completeness and perfection.

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·        Creative work on Shabbos is prohibited because it counter-acts this process. 

·        It’s only when we feel this Shlaimus of all physical requirements being complete, that the door to Spirituality – that we feel so tangibly on Shabbos – is opened – letting the flood of Ruchnius enter our lives so beautifully.

 

·        One of the 39 Melachos of Shabbos is called Makeh bePatish – the little tap that completes a utensil.

·        Before the Makeh bePatish, the Kli is not complete. 

·        To complete the Kli represents exactly what we must not do on Shabbos.

 

·        The Ketoros – the composition of spices that was brought in the Bais HaMikdosh after the morning Tamid – was made of exactly 11 spices in a specific proportion.

·        It is essential that no spice is left out.

·        The Mishnah in Kreisos 6a says, “If a person leaves out any of its spices, he is Chayiv Misah”.

·        In order for the Shechinah to be reside in the Mikdosh requires a condition of Shlaimus.

 

·        This is why it is so essential that Jews have good Midos, follow Hallachah with care, and are honest in business – because every Jew is a Mikdosh Me’at.

·        Maintaining a status of personal Shlaimus is essential for reaching the spiritual state that enables us to make a Kiddush Hashem when we interact with others.

 

·        In the global sweep of history our task - as human beings in general and Jews in particular - is to perfect the world, referred to as Tikun Haolam. 

·        When Hashem decides that this task is complete to the best of our abilities, then He will bring Moshiach, and then the Shabbos of the world will begin – when Ruchnius will fill the world just like water fills the oceans.

 

·        This is also the essence of marriage.

·        A man and a woman – incomplete without each other – form a complete unit through Kiddushin – and that enables an amazing level of spirituality to enter their lives and their home, enabling them to start a family.

 

·        We see this principle also at work in physics with an electric circuit. 

·        An electric circuit must be complete – without even the tiniest break – in order for the current to flow. 

·        An electric circuit can be a 1000 miles long, and the current will flow freely. 

·        But a break of even a fraction of a millimeter will prevent any current from flowing.

 

·        Considering the importance of Shlaimus – completeness – a question can be asked about the Brocha that we say after eating many types of food, the Brocha called Borei Nefehsot.

·        We thank Hashem ”Boray Nefeshot Rabot ve Chesronon” Who creates numerous living things with their deficiencies – Chesronot.

 

·        If Shlaimus is our goal and ideal, the essential requirement for our achieving Ruchnius – why do we thank Hashem for creating us with deficiencies, Chesronot?

 

·        First of all, that is exactly our Tafkid, our purpose – to fix those imperfections.

·        This is how we strive for Shlaimus.

 

·        Another idea is that we overcome our imperfections by helping each other.

·        I will complement and help you with your imperfections, and you can help me with mine.

 

·        Again, that is the essence and meaning of marriage, the teamwork and mutual help between a husband and wife.

 

·        With this idea in mind, we can propose a theory as to why Hashem created the world with so many imperfections.

·        If you compared two totally perfect Neshamas – one that Hashem made perfect, and the other that has perfected itself in the course of many lifetimes and many struggles – which of these two perfect Neshamas would be ‘better’.

·        I would suggest that the Neshama that reached that lofty level of perfection as a result of its own effect and free will is a ‘better’ and more elevated Neshama.

 

·        That might be the grand plan of Hashem for the world.

·        To create an imperfect world with imperfect Neshamas, that in the long run, will have many ‘tries’ to perfect themselves.

·        A spiritual world populated by such self-made Neshamas would be the best of all possible worlds.

·        Since Hashem wants to create the best of all possible worlds, that is why He created people with Chesronot – that in the long run, are given umpteen challenges that  give us the opportunity to perfect ourselves.

 

·        This is the goal that we strive for, with all the many challenges that we face.

·        May we help each other achieve this inspiring goal.

·        May we strive for and eventually achieve this Shlaimus, so that we can usher in the ultimate world of total Spiritual perfection that our prophets write about.