Parashat Teruma- The Mishkan and Self-Esteem
Parashat Teruma presents the instructions for the building of the Mishkan and its appurtenances. The actual structure of the Mishkan was built from wooden planks, and the Torah requires that these planks be made specifically from "Shittim" wood, identified by the Sages as one of the species of "Erez" – cedar wood. Of course, there were no forests or lumberyards in the desolate wilderness in which Bene Yisrael found themselves at the time God commanded them to construct a Mishkan. From where, then, did they take cedar wood for this purpose? Rashi comments that Yaakov had planted cedar trees in Egypt before his death, and he instructed his children to take these trees with them when they left Egypt. Yaakov foresaw the Exodus and God's eventual command to construct a Mishkan, and he thus prepared for the fulfillment of this Misva by planting cedars and ordering his children to bring this wood with them out of Egypt. These were the cedars that Bene Yisrael used for the construction of the Mishkan.
In truth, these cedars have even a more ancient history. The Sages tell that the cedars Yaakov brought with him to Egypt were taken from Be'er Sheva, where they had been planted by his grandfather, Avraham. Thus, the wood used for the building of the Mishkan was taken from trees planted by none other than Avraham Avinu himself.
Why was it so important for Bene Yisrael to use specifically cedar wood for the Mishkan? At first glance, they should have used any species but cedar for the purpose of the Mishkan, in light of the association commonly drawn between the cedar tree and arrogance. The cedar is the largest, sturdiest and most majestic of all trees, and thus serves as an appropriate symbol of pride and an inflated ego. Shouldn't such a symbol be kept far away from the Mishkan? The Sages teach that God can tolerate all negative qualities with the exception of arrogance; He cannot reside, as it were, together with an arrogant person. Furthermore, the Mishna in Pirke Avot (4:4) teaches, "Me'od Me'od Heve Shefal Ru'ah" – "Be very, very humble." While generally Judaism advocates balanced, moderate behavior, when it comes to humility it is necessary to follow an extreme approach; such is the singular importance of humility in Torah thought. Why, then, did God allow – let alone require – that the Mishkan be built from cedar wood, the symbol of pride and arrogance?
The Ba'al Shem Tov (founder of Hasidism, 1700-1760) commented that a person must conduct himself with a certain degree of what he termed "Ga'ava De'kedusha" – literally, "holy arrogance," which we might more accurately translate as "self-confidence" or "self-esteem." There are two situations, the Ba'al Shem Tov taught, in which this quality must be enlisted. Firstly, at times a person's Yeser Ha'ra (evil inclination) will attempt to lure him to sin by convincing him of his worthlessness, by reminding him of his shortcomings and history of spiritual failure. The Yeser Ha'ra hopes to thereby drive the person into depression and despair, such that he makes no attempt to improve himself or to strive for greater heights of spiritual achievement. When this happens, a person must gird himself with "arrogance," with pride, with the knowledge that he is endowed with a sacred soul, and that God loves him – and all people – unconditionally.
The second situation is when others seek to discourage a person from religious commitment. Often, when a person begins to grow in his religious observance, he must endure the scorn and insults of his peers. While one certainly must remain respectful and good-mannered to his friends, he must, at the same time, engender within himself a sense of pride in whom he has now become and in the direction he has chosen. In situations such as these, one must indeed be like a cedar tree – strong, confident, and resolute in his commitment.
This explains the significance of the cedar trees used in the building of the Mishkan. These cedars originated from Avraham Avinu, who epitomized this quality of confidence in the face of hostile opposition. Though he was by nature humble and unassuming, Avraham firmly and unwaveringly preached monotheism in opposition to the entire world. He proudly stood up to his family, his community, and even to the emperor Nimrod. The cedar he planted thus represented the self-confidence that he bequeathed to his descendants, the importance of pride and firm resolve in the face of pressure and opposition.
As his grandson, Yaakov, made his way down to Egypt, he took these cedars of Avraham with them. He realized that his descendants would have to live for two centuries in a foreign country whose values and lifestyle directly conflicted with their own. Yaakov therefore taught them this message of the "cedar tree," the importance of "Ga'ava De'kedusha" which enables a person to withstand external pressure and remain steadfastly loyal to his principles and beliefs.
This easily explains the important role of cedar wood in the construction of the Mishkan. Without a degree of self-confidence and healthy self-esteem, we cannot bring God's presence into our midst. If we are so feeble that we succumb to pressure and compromise our values in order to please others, then we will never achieve Kedusha (sanctity). The message of the cedar wood is that of "Ga'ava De'kedusha," taking pride in our religious commitment even in the face of the pressure, and respecting ourselves as important, dignified people devoted to the faithful service of God.
