The parsha begins with Moshe commanding B’nai Yisrael (the Jewish people) to observe the day of Shabbat. Following that he speaks to them about donating precious stones and materials for the construction of the Mishkan. Rashi writes that the juxtaposition of these two mitzvot teaches us that the construction of the Mishkan does not override the observance of Shabbat.

Rashi uses the word "hik-dim", which means that Moshe spoke to B’nai Yisrael about Shabbat before speaking to them about the construction of the Mishkan in order to teach them this rule. Why does Shabbat have to be first to teach this? Shouldn’t B’nai Yisrael first be told what to do and then be told when to stop?

Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetsky offers an insightful answer to this question. When Moshe taught B’nai Yisrael that the building of the Mishkan does not override Shabbat, he was coming from a halachic standpoint and a practical one as well.

The purpose and goal of the Mishkan was to create an abode for the Shechina and to bring honor to Hashem's name. The means to attain this goal was its construction. Moshe was afraid that in their eagerness to complete this wondrous edifice, they would become so involved in the construction that the construction would now become their goal and they would not stop until it was done.

 

If B’nai Yisrael remained focused on the true goal of their endeavors which is to bring honor to Hashem, then when Shabbat came of course they would stop, for what greater honor to Hashem is there than Shabbat. However, if they were to lose sight of this goal and turn the means, i.e. the construction, into the goal, then Shabbat could be in jeopardy.

 

Therefore, Moshe spoke to B’nai Yisrael about Shabbat first, to instill in them the lesson of Shabbat, that this is Hashem's world and our goal in life is to serve Him. We must never lose sight of this goal lest our deep involvement in the means by which we are to attain our goals takes over our focus and causes us to stray. Through this lesson, Shabbat would remain sacred.

The story is told of a yeshiva bochur who was caught writing the Rosh HaYeshiva's shiur on Shabbat. How could someone who was seemingly so involved in Torah study allow that involvement to become a cause for Shabbat desecration? The answer is because he turned the means into the goal. The deep intellectual exercises of a shiur are a means to fulfill the mitzvah of Torah in its highest level. But if they become a goal unto themselves then even Shabbat can be at risk.

This lesson, that we remain focused on our true goals, can be applied to a very relevant issue in our lives. We are all involved in making a living. What is the real purpose of making money? The goal should be to support and nourish a healthy family. If a person becomes so involved in their work that they don't spend time with their family then they have lost sight of the true goal and have turned the means into the goal.

We must always remain clear on what the means are and what the goals are.

 

Shabbat Shalom.