Timeless Torah

Life is difficult. But then who said it shouldn’t be? Every morning, countless people rise from their bed only to face a slew of problems. Compare their day with the tzorres of those who cannot get out of bed. Why, we ask, does life have to be so hard? After all, did some oracle proclaim that life shouldn’t be easy? Of course, the loudest Voice of all, G-d.

In fact, even before Adam thought of a fruit platter, the Almighty had declared to man that his vocation was, “To work and guard.” Without a doubt, the work load became heavier after the first couple were expelled from the luscious Garden of Eden. At that point, the new orders were, “By the sweat of your brow...” Since then, life became even more challenging, especially during the Egyptian bondage.

But now, three and a half thousand years have gone by. The toil and sweat, the endless days and anxious nights, are for many, a thing of the past. Plenty of Jews, I am happy to report, live in the Land of Plenty. Nonetheless, there are specific areas that will always present a formidable task...and they are all discussed within a very short space of Torah.

The final verse in last week’s portion reads, “Moses heard the Voice speaking to him...from between the two Cherubim.” This is followed in this week’s Biblical section with, “When you kindle the lamps, towards the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.” Two chapters later, Hashem commands Moses to, “Make for yourself two silver trumpets...hammered out...for the summoning of the assembly.”

These three (Cherubim, Menorah, and Trumpets) were all important features in the daily life of the early Israelites. As different as they were in form and function, they all had something in common. All three were to be made “miksha”-hammered from a solid piece of metal. In the case of the Cherubim and the Menorah the material used was gold while the Trumpets were fashioned out of a single mass of silver.

The word “miksha” has several implications. While it literally means hammered, it also implies with difficulty (from the Hebrew word, kasheh). Why should these three ritual objects be considered more difficult than other Temple items? Certainly, it is much harder to create a complex structure from a single chunk of metal than to make smaller component parts to be fitted or glued together later. But is that all? Surely, there must be a lesson, besides METALWORKS 101 to be gleaned from the fact that only these three could be constructed “with difficulty”?

In symbolic language the Cherubim in the Holy of Holies represent purity. That is why these angelic figurines had the faces of young children. The Menorah symbolizes the eternal light of Torah, while the Trumpets of Moses represent the function of leadership.

Raising Jewish children, in the model of the Cherubim, to be pure and innocent, was always difficult. No one ever invented a magic formula for doing so, and this is one area that was always miksha, involving great effort. As we are well aware, endless energy and constant concern shape productive children, not casual or benign neglect.

Similarly, excelling at Torah requires boundless commitment and oceans of energy. No dilettante ever became a world class sage. Nor can one inherit this title. It must be acquired word by word with focused concentration. Just as rocket ships are not suddenly launched to the moon, no person ever became a luminary of Torah with a single hapless lunge.

Finally, we arrive at our silver trumpets. Do we need to mention the challenges of a Jewish communal leader? Was there anyone more qualified than Moses, or a congregation more spiritual than they who experienced the splitting of the sea and the reception of the Torah? Nonetheless, even with no shortage of money or miracles, the patience of the humblest man on the face of the earth, was constantly on trial.

There is another aspect of making something out of one piece. If one wants short-cuts, one assembles components that are made separately into a final product. On the other hand, something made out of one piece is stronger, tougher, and more durable. (To illustrate, examine the difference between Tefillin made from one piece (Me’Or Echad), versus Tefillin that are glued together from separate pieces). To be successful in these areas one must be consistent, day-in day-out. One cannot be a parent, scholar or leader if one approaches these tasks piece-meal.

Don’t be discouraged. Be realistic. Becoming a victim of false expectations, results in disappointment. However, when one accepts the task with the understanding that it’s miksha - difficult, then paradoxically, it becomes tolerably easier.