I have very little patience for repetition. At first glance, this week’s Torah portion, V’yakhel-Pekudei, is a repeat of the portion we read two weeks ago, outlining all the minute (and at first glance boring) details about the construction of the portable holy temple and its furnishings. Two portions ago, G-d told Moses these laws, and now Moses is retelling the details to the Israelites. Why the repetition? And is it really repeated or is there something new in the second telling?
This morning, I learned in my Rabbi’s Torah class that the retelling was not merely a repeat performance. In the second telling, the Israelites are called to action. Each person was supposed to contribute to the building, no matter their means or ability. The most important thing they brought to the table was attitude. Most of the people had very little skill in constructing anything in the temple. They had just come out of Egypt, had passively received Manna and depended on G-d for everything. Now they are called to take action, no matter their ability.
Two things came to my mind. One, I couldn’t help but see the metaphor in raising a family. Like the Israelites leaving Egypt who followed Moses across the split sea and depended on Moses and G-d for sustenance, babies are totally dependent on their parents to nurture them and fulfill their every need. As children grow, effective parents teach them to be more and more self-reliant, until they are finally ready to be on their own. At this juncture in time, I see the Israelites as adults, ready to leave home, G-d nudging them to go out on their own.
The second thought I had relates to my life coaching practice. Clients often express a desire to start a new business, but they don’t feel they have enough skill, knowledge, funds, just fill in the blank with anything they feel is scarce in their lives. I’ve been there, too. I have felt that if I just get a little more experience, I can write that book. With a little more research, I’ll be ready to run that workshop. And then I just do it. I look deeply into my own knowledge, I rely on my intuition, and I start from where I am.
I believe that is one of the most important things about G-d’s commandment to the Israelites to build the temple. Come with your heart, your desire to contribute. You don’t need to be an expert to build. Your motivation is enough. How many talented people do you know who never fulfill their dream of utilizing those skills due to a lack of belief in themselves, or a lack of initiative. And conversely, how many highly motivated people do you know who became successful due to their stick-to-itiveness, and not necessarily because they were the most talented or brilliant in the bunch?
So why do we read about the construction of the temple twice? I will answer with another two questions: Why do we not believe in our innate abilities? Why do we think someone else can do it better? No matter how many times someone tells you that you are capable, you may doubt your won ability. It’s worth repeating because it’s one of the most crucial things you need to believe. That you are able. You have a unique voice. You have the ability to contribute to this world in your special way.
What is your unique contribution?
