Vayakhel 5774

“Every man whose heart uplifted him came; and everyone whose spirit motivated him brought the offering of the L-rd for the work of the Tent of Meeting, for all its service and for the sacred vestments.” (Shemot/Exodus 35:21)

In this week’s Torah portion, G-d makes the people responsible for constructing and furnishing the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The execution requires a high level of skill and craftsmanship.

How do these recently freed slaves acquire the know-how and experience to perform the highly skilled work of weaving, sewing and building?

Writes Rabbi Yehanosan Gefen on aish.com: “The Ramban answers that they found deep within their nature the ability. These formerly hidden powers came about as a result of their deep desire to fulfill G-d’s will. As a result of their burning desire, G-d gave them the ability to do things they had never been taught.”

Explain Rabbi Yisroel and Rabbi Osher Anshel Jungreis in Torah for Your Table: “If we truly desire to fulfill the will of G-d, if our hearts burn with fervor for His sake, then G-d will remove all obstacles from our paths and enable us to achieve the impossible. We have an enormous power within ourselves of which we are not even aware, and that is faith. Indeed, if we have faith in our Heavenly Father and seek to fulfill His will, He will enable us to tap energies and abilities that we didn’t even know we possessed. We need only to act upon our dreams and they may well become reality.”

As parents, there may be situations in which certain tasks are required and we feel we are unqualified to perform, yet there does not appear to be anyone else suitable for the job. Rabbi Hillel tells us, “In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.” (Pirkei Avot/Ethics of the Fathers 2:6) When there is no one else and the need is pressing, we must rise to the occasion no matter how incapable we feel. Rabbi Gefen assures us: “If we dedicate ourselves to doing G-d’s will, then surely G-d will bring out in us hidden talents.”

http://www.aish.com/tp/i/gl/245745601.html