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When Can Haughtiness be Good? Vayakhel-Pikudei 5777

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We know that the walls of the Mishkan were made from shittim or cedar wood and the Torah lists u201catzei shittimu201d among the items that were to be donated to the Mishkan

We have often heard the complaint that the children of the community think they are special. Critics note that among the youth there is a sense of haughtiness and pride. This they find unacceptable, typically quoting Maimonides where he states that “There are certain character traits which a person is forbidden to accustom himself in, even in moderation. Rather, he must distance himself to the opposite extreme. One such trait is haughtiness. For the ideal path is not that one be humble alone; he must be lowly of spirit and exceedingly unassuming.

But can there be a good haughtiness? Where does one draw the line between positive self-esteem and pride? We all know that self-esteem is a very important ingredient for a successful and happy life. A person can be blessed with intelligence and talent but if he or she lacks self-esteem, this can be an obstacle in achieving success in a job, a relationship and in virtually every area of life. When can one have an elevated heart?

We discussed this in class this morning based on a class by Rabbi Pinches Friedman and I recalled that my mother may she be blessed, worked diligently to build our self-confidence and she continues to do so. As children we heard in Synagogue that we should never forget that our father’s family descended from the Davidic dynasty. I had to remember that I was a child not only of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I was the son of Judah, of Nachshon who with deep faith stepped into the sea until it split, of David who slew Goliath and wrote Psalms and of Solomon the father of Wisdom and author of Song of Songs, Kohelet and Proverbs. My mother would remind us that as a Gindi, she was the daughter of a Kohen and although we ourselves were not priests, we still descended from Aaron HaKohen and Pinchas ben Elazar his grandson and zealot; their blood flowing in our veins. My dad would temper the fact that we were born with the crowns of Royalty and Priesthood with the reminder that we must earn on our own the crown of Torah.

As young adults our group of friends knew that we were special. There was a sense of communal pride, a level of camaraderie and a feeling that there was no place better. We made friends with Saudi princes who had more money and things than we could even imagine, but it was they who wanted to be with us. I had a friend who was a Kennedy, true American royalty and wealth, but again, we were the cool ones. We knew actors, famous designers, athletes and models, but we felt we had the good life; a life far better than anything out there.

What is the source of this pride?

We read in the second perasha this week the portion of Pekudei, “ Betzalel … did all that Hashem commanded Moshe.”

How does Betzalel know all that Hashem told Moses? This verse implies that even regarding matters which Moses had not related to him, Betzalel was able to figure out. Rashi explains, Moses commanded Betzalel to make the utensils first and the Mishkan afterwards. Betzalel said to him, ‘The common practice of the world is to first make a house, and afterwards one puts the utensils in it.’ Moses responded, As you said is what I heard from the mouth of Hashem.’

Moses then compliments his student using a play on his name explaining, ‘you were in G-d’s shadow (be’tzal El), for indeed, that is what Hashem commanded me.’ And that is what he (Betzalel) did.”

It makes sense that one builds the house first and then builds the furniture. The house is more than a place for furniture. The house protects us from the world outside as the Mishkan protects the Jewish people and our Kedusha from the nations of the world.

We know that the walls of the Mishkan were made from shittim or cedar wood and the Torah lists “atzei shittim” among the items that were to be donated to the Mishkan . Again we turn to Rashi who asks where one gets shittim or cedar wood in the desert?

Rashi answers, that Yaakov Avinu planted “shittim” trees in Egypt, and when he was dying, he commanded his sons to take them up with them when they would depart from Egypt. He told them that Hashem would command them in the future to make a Mishkan of “shittim” wood in the midbar. See to it that you should have them ready at hand.

The Zohar explains that Jacob went to the trouble of planting cedar-trees in Egypt so that it would be his kedushah that would serve as the middle bar, bridging the beams—that were made from the very trees that he had planted— from one end to the other.

And this leaves us with another challenging question of why Yaakov planted cedars in Egypt in anticipation of the building of the Mishkan. This is seemingly surprising. For, we find a passuk that explicitly associates the cedar with haughtiness with regard to the Parah Adumah, the red heifer. “There shall be taken two live, pure birds, cedar wood, a crimson tongue of wool, and hyssop”.

Rashi explains: “Cedar wood, because afflictions come because of haughtiness. Crimson wool and hyssop, because what is required for his remedy and cure? He should lower himself from his arrogance like a worm and like a hyssop.”

That being the case, why did Yaakov plant trees for the Mishkan that symbolize haughtiness?

Let us suggest an explanation. When Yaakov was preparing to go down to Egypt, where immorality was prevalent, he became gravely concerned. He wondered how his children would maintain their sense of morality during the exile in Egypt. Therefore, he devised the plan to plant cedar trees in Egypt, in order to inculcate in Yisrael a sense of haughtiness related to kedushah. Thus, they would not be ashamed on account of their names, their language or their dress, when confronted by the Egyptians.

There is a verse in Divrei HaYamim describing the King Yehoshafat – Vayigbah Libo – And his heart was elevated in the ways of Hashem.

We can understand that there is a time when one needs an elevated heart. The lesson of Jacob being, that by emulating the tall proud cedars his great grandchildren would succeed in maintaining their kedushah – their holiness in Egypt.

I would venture to say that we live today in a world which closely resembles Egypt. The draw towards society, fame and wealth can be irresistible. How does one compete in a realm where the grass is always greener next door?

Rabbi Friedman explains that we should not mistakenly believe that since the Mishkan has been concealed away, the wall of kedushah provided by the beams of the Mishkan no longer protects the Jewish home and family. The Torah emphasizes the point that they – the shittim beams will remain standing for all eternity. In every generation, it is imperative that we follow in the footsteps of our forefather Yaakov, who planted cedar trees in Egypt. He did so to teach us to remain strong and steadfast in the ways of the Torah that was handed down to us—like the cedar.

And like the cedars to be proud of who we are, where we come from and what we have. Rabbi Abittan z’sl often reminded us of Benjamin Disraeli’s response to the taunts of his Jewish roots by Daniel O’Connell , “Yes, I am a Jew, and when the ancestors of the right honorable gentleman were brutal savages in an unknown island, mine were priests in the temple of Solomon”.

A healthy dose of self-confidence, a bit of haughtiness and pride, a reminder that we are the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Moses and Aaron, of David and Solomon, of great scholars throughout the ages. Oh yes, we are very special, and none are as special as us. We are the Chosen people because we Chose and accepted the Torah. We need to be reminded and remember and if we do, we will confidently remain separate from the goyim and their ways.

My mom taught me that. I hope my children teach their children the same.

By: Rabbi David Bibi

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