Pizza and Parsha
Takeout Edition

Pekudei

By Zev Schramm, freshman
With special thanks to Rabbi Ari Kahn

For the last few weeks, we have heard a lot about the building of the Mishkan. In the last four parshiot, we have seen multiple descriptions of the Mishkan and all of the different vessels that would be housed inside it. This week, in the fifth parsha on the subject, the Mishkan is at last completed, and ultimately, on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, erected. After five months of laboring, Betzalel and Oholiav, whom G-d enlisted to help Moshe with the building and artistry, had accomplished what they set out to do.

Why did G-d choose Betzalel to help Moshe? We see back in Parshat Ki Tisa that before Hashem chose him specifically, it seems there was nothing special about Betzalel in particular. Only after he was selected was he given his extraordinary talents and skill. ?And Hashem spoke to Moses saying, ‘See, I have called by name, Betzalel son of Uri son of Hur from the tribe of Judah. And I will fill him with the spirit of Elohim — with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge?” (Shemot 31:1-5). In Gemara Sanhedrin, 69B, we learn that Betzalel was a mere thirteen years old when he worked on the Mishkan and its vessels. So who was he?

Betzalel is introduced as the grandson of Hur, who we know from the famous story of the battle between the Israelites and Amalek in the desert ? when Moshe?s hands were raised, the Israelites had the advantage, but when his arms got tired, Amalek began to win, so Aharon and Hur sat Moshe on a rock, and held his hands aloft until the battle was over. The only other place we see Hur is as Moshe ascends Sinai to get the Torah, he leaves Aaron and Hur in charge, after which Hur, seemingly an important leader, disappears. In Tanchuma Tezaveh we are told that when the Israelites first began to rebel and build the Golden Calf, Hur stepped in to stop it, and was instantly killed by the angry mob. For this selfless act of martyrdom, G-d told him ?By your life I will repay you.? (Shemot Rabba) Betzalel, though, was not the only descendant of Hur whom was given great wisdom and understanding. The Gemara in Sotah (11B) teaches us that the great King David, and his son, the wise King Shlomo were also descendants of Hur. Shlomo and Betzalel in fact have much in common. Betzalel, as we said, was thirteen when he built the Mishkan in the desert. Shlomo, who became at king at the age of twelve, built the Beit Hamikdash in Jerusalem.