Parshas Pekudei (HaChodesh) 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
ביום החדש הראשון באחד לחדש תקים את משכן אהל מועד ... (מ-ב)
Chazal teach us that although the construction of the Mishkan was complete, it wasn’t actually erected until Rosh Chodesh Nisan. The Medrash further elaborates that Hashem davka wanted to wait for Nisan, which was the month in which Yitzchok Avinu was born. R’ Moshe Sternbuch shlita points out that we learn from this that sometimes, even if a mitzvah is essentially ready, its suitable time may not have arrived yet. Everything has its proper "בעתו ובזמנו". Though the Mishkan was physically complete, it would need the zechus of Yitzchok to render it spiritually complete.
Why Rosh Chodesh Nisan and why Yitzchok Avinu?
This week we lein Parshas Hachodesh, החדש הזה לכם ראש חדשים. Perhaps, the auspicious time to erect the Mishkan was at the beginning of the new cycle of the months, symbolizing a fresh start, coupled with avodah, which is the midah of Yitzchok, and the ultimate purpose of the Mishkan. There couldn’t have been a more propitious time for the חנוכת המשכן.
Maybe we can add another machshava, L’kavod the Zaida zt”l (Baal Machsheves Halev) whose 6th yahrtzeit was this past week. Avraham Avinu was the first "אב" to forge his own derech. Yitzchok, on the other hand, was the first "אב" to follow in his father’s mesorah. Hashem was conveying to us that when you want to create an environment of השראת השכינה in your own life, one must follow the path laid out for him by his predecessors, known as מסורת האבות. Thus, הקב"ה commanded us to wait until Nisan to inaugurate the Mishkan, thereby imparting this valuable message.
The Zaida was extremely vigilant to follow his family’s mesora, and that of his Rebbeim, and Gedolim in every facet of his life. His utmost chashivus for tzadikim was a life’s lesson for us, one that remains with his family ledoros.
May we all strive to follow this ideal, honoring and continuing our beautiful golden heritage.