Parashat Pekudeh- Planning and Executing
The two final Parashiyot of the Book of Shemot, Vayakhel and Pekudeh, appear to simply repeat two earlier Parashiyot – Teruma and Tesaveh. In Teruma and Tesaveh, the Torah records God’s instructions for the building of the Mishkan and its furnishings, and the fashioning of the Bigdeh Kehuna (priestly vestments). In Vayakhel and Pekudeh, the Torah simply tells of the execution of these commands. Rather than simply inform us that Beneh Yisrael’s artisans followed God’s commands, the Torah found it necessary to repeat all the details.
We know that there are no superfluous Parashiyot in the Torah, and, for that matter, there are no superfluous chapters, verses, words, letters or even vowels. Even the crowns above certain letters are there for a specific reason. Accordingly, the Hachamim offered different explanations for why the details of Teruma and Tesaveh and repeated, in full, in Vayakhel and Pekudeh. Undoubtedly, this repetition is intended to convey a certain message.
Rav Avraham Pam (1913-2001) explained that the Torah wanted to emphasize the fact that the plans were translated into a final product, that the good intentions were followed up by successful execution. In Teruma and Tesaveh, the operative word is "Ve’asita" – "You shall make"; in Vayakhel and Pekudeh, the word we find repeated is "Va’ya’asu" – "They made…" The command of "Ve’asita" became "Va’ya’asu." The planning did not remain as theoretical, noble ideas in the people’s minds. They were brought to fruition, and executed precisely as planned.
It is easy to have ideas, to make commitments and resolutions, to create images in our minds of the various "Mishkans" that we wish to build. We all have noble plans and intentions. The hard part is executing them. We have all gone through the experience of making commitments over the course of Yom Kippur for the coming year, with all sincerity and seriousness, with the noblest of intentions. Whether it is to improve our relationships with our family and friends, to study more Torah, enhance the quality of our prayers, conduct ourselves more modestly, or refrain from Lashon Ha’ra, we have all had periods of serious reflection and sincere commitments. But when it comes to following through on those commitments, we run into trouble. We become like a rubber band that stretches, but then snaps right back into place. We grow and improve in the weeks after the High Holidays, only to find ourselves by Hanukah back to where we were originally.
The Torah emphasizes for us the greatness of Beneh Yisrael in executing their commitments, in turning "Ve’asita" into "Va’ya’asu."
How can we ensure to follow through on our commitments, and turn all our sincere, noble plans into reality?
One solution is to make commitments that are specific and realistic. A general commitment to learn more Torah will not likely succeed; nor will a commitment to complete the entire Talmud every year. We need to set specific goals that we know are attainable. It is told that a certain great Rabbi, in order to improve the quality of his recitation of Birkat Ha’mazon, took it upon himself to always recite Birkat Ha’mazon from a Siddur for a period of six months. He knew that an indefinite commitment would not likely work, so he decided that for six months he would recite Birkat Ha’mazon from a Siddur, rather than from memory, and he would then reassess after six months.
This is sound advice for those of us seeking to grow and improve. We should set modest, specific goals that we know we can achieve with a bit of effort. With time, we will see success in our attempts to build our own "Mishkan," and that our noble intentions and plans are indeed executed and transformed into reality.
