Rabbi Fabian Werbin
This week’s Torah portion is Pekudei: Exodus 38:21 – 40:38
In 1908, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook wrote to the Betzalel Association of Jerusalem, commemorating the revival of Hebrew art in the land of Israel. He saw this artistic awakening as a clear sign of Jewish national renewal. Even those focused on survival, he argued, should rejoice at this development.
To illustrate, he shared a parable: A young girl, gravely ill for a long time, finally begins to show signs of recovery. Her lips regain color, her hands move and she whispers with a tiny smile, “Mommy, give me my doll.” Her family rejoices, recognizing this as a turning point — proof that she will live and thrive.
“[Our] beloved Jerusalem, this ‘lily (Shoshana) of the valleys’ (Shir HaShirim 2:1), this precious daughter of Zion … is afflicted with the disease of the bitter, cursed, and drawn-out exile. Her children have forgotten her. Many of them, weak at heart, have lost hope in her future. But now a stream of life gently shakes her depressed and sickly bones; she demands beauty, art, and skilled work.” With these words, Rav Kook expressed the Jewish people’s desire to look for “her doll.”
Pragmatists may argue that more pressing needs must come first. Yet, Rav Kook recognized this desire for art as a vital sign of national revival and renewal. Art, beauty and creativity were not luxuries or unnecessary indulgences but essential expressions of a people reclaiming their destiny and desire to live “normal lives.”
Betzalel, the artist and main protagonist in the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), is mentioned for the last time in this week’s parashah, Pekudei, the last parashah of the book of Exodus, as Moses records the completion of the task assigned to Betzalel.
The building of the Tabernacle was the response to a crucial moment in our history — the sin of the golden calf.
The Torah tells us that for this task, God bestowed Betzalel with chochmah (wisdom), tevunah (understanding) and da’at (knowledge).
Rashi explains the difference between these concepts:
• Wisdom means the knowledge a person learns from others.
• Understanding is the ability to analyze and derive new insights.
• Knowledge is the wisdom granted directly from God.
The Talmud (Berachot 55a) describes Betzalel’s unique wisdom as residing in his ability to combine the letters that were used in Creation.
The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 15:10) plays with his name and informs us that the artist was protected by God — Betzalel, B’tzel El, in God’s shadow.
Betzalel’s work may have ended, but the project of building and sustaining the Jewish people continues. Since then, each of us has carried the sacred duty of being architects of our community, shaping its future with faith, resilience and compassion.
Our responsibility demands that we first tend to the most urgent needs — security, survival and justice. Today, that means fighting for the return of the hostages in Gaza, protecting Israel and standing against rising antisemitism. While we’re fighting for life, we also have to remember to actually live. Even in challenging times, we must never forget to seek out “the doll” — the small acts of kindness and humanity and the moments of blessing that nourish the soul of our people.
We must remember to confront challenging times and sacred missions with chochmah, tevunah and da’at.
Let us build a future worthy of our past and a present infused with meaning as we continue the task of creation B’tzel El, with God’s protection.
Rabbi Fabian Werbin is the rabbi at Kol Shalom in Rockville, Maryland.
