The Weekly Sedra – Vayakhel – The Book Or The Cover?

Legend has it that the late Albert Einstein, having just completed a paper and in need of a clasp, spent a considerable amount of time trying to straighten-out a clip that was twisted and unusable. While struggling with the dysfunctional object, his assistant discovered a new box of perfect clips. Einstein took one of the new paper clips reshaped it and used it as an instrument to repair the old bent one.

In response to his assistant’s bewilderment, the renowned physicist declared: “I had just established a new objective; once set upon a goal I’m not easily deflected.”

We all have the need for an objective in life. It is without question that a good cause adds spark and purpose to what might otherwise amount to mere existence – it is what makes life worthwhile. Living solely for the sake of existing seems inadequate and meaningless, at least in the eyes of the more intelligent human creatures.

But what is more important, the feeling of worth and importance that is derived from our involvement and dedication to a cause, or the integrity and authenticity of the actual cause?

Too often, we fall into the proverbial trap of mistaking the book with its cover. The actual need for a cause tends oftentimes to overshadow and outweigh the credibility and importance of the cause itself – be it with regards to politics social activism and even religion.

Veteran news reporter David Brinkley is said to have surveyed the Washington scene back in September of 1992 and discovered a very interesting phenomenon.

Washington, DC derives a great portion of revenue from traffic tickets. In fact, $50 million a year was raised at the time from tickets for moving violations, expired inspection stickers, overdue registrations and of course the inescapable plethora of expired parking meters. (Almost as bad as N.Y., don’t ya think?)

While writing a ticket for an illegally parked car, a traffic officer on a Washington curb watched as a thief had the audacity to remove the car’s license plate with a screwdriver and make off with it.
Undaunted, the officer did not even attempt to stop him. He just continued writing the ticket, even as the crook went about his business. Then, when the thief was finished, he gave the car another ticket for parking on a public street with no plates.

In our Parsha – Vayakhel, Moshe gathers the entire nation of Israel and charges them with the complex task of constructing the holy Tabernacle. Before he even gets started with the topic at hand, he fires off a warning about the need to sanctify the Shabbos: “Six days work shall be done, and the seventh day shall be holy . . .” Exodus 35:2-3. Only after this digression does Moshe continue with the directives that pertain to the completion of the Mishkan.

Is it not odd that while instructing the Israelites about this extraordinary and awesome endeavor, Moshe would digress with a warning about a seemingly unrelated and previously stated observance? The juxtaposition of the laws of Shabbos in the midst of the instruction about building the Sanctuary is by all accounts confusing.

According to Rashi, Moshe cautioned the Jewish people against violating the laws of Shabbos in pursuit of their new-fangled endeavor.

Keenly aware of human nature, Moses found himself compelled to warn against becoming overly
engrossed in the novelty and euphoria of the new and exciting objective, to the point of forgetting its actual intent, and even violating its basic spirit.

In warning against the desecration of the Shabbos, Moshe was cautioning against the common human fallacy of confusing the means for the end, or better yet, forgetting that there is an end. Moshe was reminding his flock to keep focused on the real goals and not to get sidetracked by feelings.

Even when the work is as holy and exciting as building the Tabernacle – a place for G-d to dwell – rules are rules and Shabbos is Shabbos. Even when we feel like breaking the rules for what we perceive to be a good cause, we must always focus on the greater cause and objective

Moshe’s three thousand year old words of caution reverberate with keen relevance. Activism that is kept in check is usually a good thing. Activism that has lost its focus and gone awry is apt to become self-centered and defy its very own purpose and intention.