Human Effort from Below -- Heavenly Assistance from Above

by HaRav Dov Begon
Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir

“In the first month of the second year of the Exodus, on the first of the month, the Tabernacle was erected. Moses erected the Tabernacle” (Exodus 40:17-18). Rashi comments:

“No man could have erected the Tabernacle due to the weight of the beams. No one was strong enough to raise them up, but Moses succeeded. Moses asked G-d, ‘How can the Tabernacle be erected by a human being?’ G-d answered, ‘Do it with your own hands.’ Thus, it looked as though Moses was erecting it while the Tabernacle actually rose up erect by itself. That is why it says, ‘The Tabernacle was erected.’ It was erected by itself.”

Rashi’s comments hint at a major principle -- a man’s strength is limited, and sometimes he faces difficult situations or what he perceives to be difficult and that are as hard to get off the ground as the Tabernacle beams. Nonetheless, when we set out to deal with these challenges as we are doing now with this global pandemic, we have to take into account the principle of Divine assistance, that the Omnipotent G-d grants us strength greater than our own limited resources.

When we make a human effort here on earth, G-d helps us from above.

Right now, we must learn from Moses’s raising up the Tabernacle beams with Divine assistance.

In the life of a nation, as well, there are sometimes difficult situations as we are facing now. that at first glance would seem impossible for us to get around. Yet, when we strive here on earth, G-d helps us above and beyond our own powers.

That is the way it was when we were establishing a state, for we fought, the few against the many. It is that way today as well, when we are struggling to maintain our hold on the Land, especially the Golan Heights.

It is the same as far as the nation’s returning to its Jewish roots, and as far as the challenge we face to create unity among us all and to increase the light of love and faith.

Let us strive with devotion and determination here on earth, and may He who has lovingly chosen His people Israel assist us from above.

Looking forward to complete salvation and redemption,
Shabbat Shalom.