This sheet on Exodus 36 was written by Matt Derrenbacher for 929 and can also be found here
Exodus 36 tells us the story of the beginning of the construction of the mishkan (tabernacle) in the wilderness — the place where God chooses to dwell among the People. Just a short while ago in Exodus 34, Moses met face-to-face with God, bringing the tablets of the covenant down from the mountain. Then, in Exodus 35, we get a detailed description of the mishkan that is to be built, who is to build it, as well as an ask of the People to bring some of their most valuable and prized possessions in order to make this happen.
Previously the people used some of these possessions to create the golden calf. Here, conversely, we have the People coming together to give even more to have God dwell among them, so much so that in Exodus 36 Bezalel and Oholiav have to ask the People to refrain from bringing any more gifts, because the response was so overwhelming.
The individuals, families, and the community as a whole are described, according to many English translations as being “generous,” or “skilled.” The Hebrew, however, is much stronger than that — the term is chacham-lev (חכם–לב), literally meaning “those with wisdom of the heart,” or “wise-hearted.” This shows that not only are the People bringing more to build the mishkan, but they are building this new community for God to actually dwell in with the intentionality of a wise heart.
Recently, there have been an alarming number of hate crimes in both the U.S. and across the world. Congregation Etz Chayim/Or L’Simcha was attacked, leaving 11 members of the congregation dead. Just a few days prior, two people in Louisville, Kentucky were murdered at a Kroger grocery store after the gunman first tried to enter a nearby predominately African-American church, but failed to gain entry.
These are just two horrifying examples of what happens when hate tries to overcome peace, love, and community-building. Bezalel, Oholiav, and all of the wise-hearted people brought all they had to build the place for God to dwell in their midst.
We as a Jewish community, and as a greater global community have the responsibility to one another to promote peace, love, and understanding among all peoples through the celebration of our differences. When we can all direct our wise hearts to building a mishkan, rather than a golden calf, we can then build the world we desire.
Previously the people used some of these possessions to create the golden calf. Here, conversely, we have the People coming together to give even more to have God dwell among them, so much so that in Exodus 36 Bezalel and Oholiav have to ask the People to refrain from bringing any more gifts, because the response was so overwhelming.
The individuals, families, and the community as a whole are described, according to many English translations as being “generous,” or “skilled.” The Hebrew, however, is much stronger than that — the term is chacham-lev (חכם–לב), literally meaning “those with wisdom of the heart,” or “wise-hearted.” This shows that not only are the People bringing more to build the mishkan, but they are building this new community for God to actually dwell in with the intentionality of a wise heart.
Recently, there have been an alarming number of hate crimes in both the U.S. and across the world. Congregation Etz Chayim/Or L’Simcha was attacked, leaving 11 members of the congregation dead. Just a few days prior, two people in Louisville, Kentucky were murdered at a Kroger grocery store after the gunman first tried to enter a nearby predominately African-American church, but failed to gain entry.
These are just two horrifying examples of what happens when hate tries to overcome peace, love, and community-building. Bezalel, Oholiav, and all of the wise-hearted people brought all they had to build the place for God to dwell in their midst.
We as a Jewish community, and as a greater global community have the responsibility to one another to promote peace, love, and understanding among all peoples through the celebration of our differences. When we can all direct our wise hearts to building a mishkan, rather than a golden calf, we can then build the world we desire.
Matt Derrenbacher is currently a rabbinical student at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
929 is the number of chapters in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, the formative text of the Jewish heritage. It is also the name of a cutting-edge project dedicated to creating a global Jewish conversation anchored in the Hebrew Bible. 929 English invites Jews everywhere to read and study Tanakh, one chapter a day, Sunday through Thursday together with a website with creative readings and pluralistic interpretations, including audio and video, by a wide range of writers, artists, rabbis, educators, scholars, students and more. As an outgrowth of the web-based platform, 929 English also offers classes, pop-up lectures, events and across North America. We invite you to learn along with us and be part of our dynamic community.
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