Always Aim High Spiritually!

Parshat Pekudei concludes the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). After the construction of all the individual components of the Mishkan, the parts were brought to Moshe. Rashi quotes the Midrash Tanchuma which explains that the reason why the Mishkan was brought to Moshe was because everyone else was unable to assemble it. The Mishkan was simply too heavy for anyone to lift. Since Moshe had not been personally involved in any part of the construction of the Mishkan, HaShem [G-d] reserved the privilege of final assembly for him.

When HaShem told Moshe to assemble the Mishkan, Moshe protested that it was too heavy for him to lift as well. HaShem told Moshe to make the effort. “Make it look like you are trying to erect it.” Moshe made the effort and miraculously, it was assembled by itself. Since Moshe made the effort, he received the credit for having put it up.

Rav Meir Rubman explains that we can learn a very important insight regarding spirituality from this midrash. The midrash teaches us that regardless of the difficulty of the task, we must make the effort. In other areas of endeavor, a person is only given credit for producing. However, when it comes to Judaism, HaShem is not necessarily interested in results; He is interested in the effort.

The concept that a person receives an “A” for effort is usually a backhanded compliment. You received a “C”, a near-failing grade, but at least you got an “A” for effort. That is the way it is in other areas of life. But with mitzvot, HaShem merely asks that we make the effort. Whether the task is accomplished or not is often out of our control and up to HaShem.

When we conclude a masekhet (tractate of the Talmud), we say the prayer “We toil, and they toil. We toil and receive reward and they toil and do not receive reward.” What does it mean “they toil and do not receive reward”? This does not seem to be a true statement. People do not work without receiving payment!

The answer is that when we work (at religious tasks), we are paid for the effort, regardless of whether we produce a result. But ‘they’ are only paid for the bottom line. In all other areas of endeavor, toil that does not produce results does not receive reward.

The ways of Heaven are different than the ways of humanity. Heaven appreciates, acknowledges, applauds, and awards sincere effort, regardless of the outcome. This is difficult for us to comprehend as in our physical world, it is the outcome that matters most. Knowing that HaShem has a different yardstick of success allows us to aim high in spiritual endeavors and not be discouraged if our efforts fall short of the goal.