"Every wise-hearted person among you shall come and make everything Hashem has commanded" (Shemot 35:10)

Construction on the Mishkan began right after Moshe came down from the mountain for the second time. Six months later, on Rosh Hodesh Nissan, it was finally erected. According to the Midrash, the entire labor of construction was completed miraculously within three months. But Hashem did not want it erected until Rosh Hodesh Nissan, months later, the month when Yitzhak Abinu was born.

Rabbi Frand asks the obvious question. If the Mishkan wasn't going to be erected until Nissan, why make a miracle to have it completed in three months, and leave the components of the Mishkan apart for three months until erected? He answers that the Mishkan was an atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf. The main problem was impatience. When Moshe was late they pushed the panic button. They didn't wait; they plunged right ahead and caused tremendous damage. Hashem wanted to teach them patience. This was the sin that needed atonement. Hashem was saying, "You completed construction of the Mishkan by Tebet, but you have to wait until Nissan. Now be patient and wait." This was the lesson they had to learn right away in order for the Mishkan to be an effective atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf.

We all can apply this to practical situations. First, we need to be patient with our livelihood. At times, if a person has a setback he must start up all over again. The main thing is to work and bring in some money, and Hashem will help. Have patience with your children. Don't give up; kee p after them and they will be good. Have patience with your spouse. Don't give up; keep encouraging your spouse to change for the better. In the long run, your spouse will improve. Be patient with yourself. Learn Torah from the foundation and up. If you can't read well, learn to read Hebrew. (Some of our members learned to read at 70!) Most importantly, have patience with Hashem. Don't complain. Wait; Hashem does everything for the good. Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Reuven Semah

"See how Hashem has chosen Besal'el, son of Uri, son of Hur" (Shemot 35:30)

Moshe told the Jewish people, "See how Hashem has chosen Besal'el, son of Uri, son of Hur to oversee the Mishkan." The Rabbis tell us that some people complained to Moshe, "Everyone who has a high position is related to you." Besal'el was a great-nephew of Moshe and the people wanted to know why he was privileged to be in charge of the Mishkan.

Hashem answered the people by describing the lineage of Besal'el. His grandfather was Hur, who was killed trying to stop the people from doing the golden calf. We could have imagined that what Hur did was a great act personally, but what could it benefit his family in the future? The answer is that when someone has self-sacrifice, it is never forgotten. Rather, it will end up helping his family in the future. The sacrifice of Hur trying to stop the golden calf resulted in the appointment of his grandson to build the Mishkan. And we know that the main goal of the Mishkan was to atone for the golden calf. No good deed is ever overlooked, especially one that involves sacrifice. Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Shmuel Choueka

Question: Why is the 'Modim Derabbanan,' Modim of the Rabbis, (the prayer that each person says when the hazzan reaches Modim in the repetition of the Amidah) given this name?

Answer: This prayer was composed by many Rabbis, as is taught in the Gemara. (Sefer Ta'amei Haminhagim Umkorei Hadinim)

This week's Haftarah: Melachim I 7:13-26.

This haftarah tells of the construction of the first Bet Hamikdash by King Shelomo. Skilled craftsmen used their skills to build the Temple and all of its vessels. Our perashah also describes the actual construction of the Mishkan by Besalel and the other skilled artisans.

A quick tip to boost the power of your prayer. Hazal tell us (Masechet Baba Kama Daf 92A) that Hashem loves the tefilot of one Jew for another so much that anyone who prays on behalf of a fellow Jew with similar needs will have his prayer answered first. A special service has now begun to provide people with names of others who find themselves in a similar predicament. You can call with complete anonymity and get the name of someone to pray for and give the name of someone that needs our prayers. The name of the service is Kol Hamitpalel. Categories include: Marriage; Income; Health; To have children etc.

Call to 646-279-8712 or email kol18@attglobal.net (Privacy of email limited by the email address)

Please pass this message along. Tizku L'misvot.

Please preserve the sanctity of this bulletin. It contains words of
Torah and should be treated with respect.
Past issues of this bulletin are available on the Internet courtesy of the
Shema Yisrael Torah Network. To view them or to see many other Torah items, please go to their site.
Other Torah e-mail you may enjoy:
send e-mail to aramsoba@yahoo.com and put in the message:
subscribe aram-soba

Please pass this bulletin along to a friend. You may subscribe to
this bulletin by sending e-mail to jerseyshorelist@home.com
and putting in the message: subscribe jersey-shore.
To unsubscribe, send the message 'unsubscribe jersey-shore' to
jerseyshorelist@home.com