The Great Balance2 min read

“And the work they had done was enough to accomplish all of the work and more.”

Many of the tzaddikim address a seeming contradiction in this pasuk. The verse begins by stating that the contributions given toward the Mishkan were simply “dayum”, enough, but ends with “v’hoser”, implying that they were in fact more than enough. Which was it? Were the contributions enough, or too much? Perhaps we may suggest an answer founded upon an important foundation in avodas Hashem. Although the Mishkan was a literal structure which housed Hashem’s Presence in the world, each and every Jewish person throughout history is tasked with building a Mishkan in his heart, erecting a spiritual structure within which faith and holiness can dwell and flourish. Thus, while this verse is literally referring to the contributions made toward the Mishkan, it can also be seen as relating to our avodas Hashem.

The tzaddikim teach that a healthy outlook on Yiddishkeit is a combination of two different aspects. On one hand, a Jew must live with the perpetual understanding that he has only just begun to fulfill his obligation to Hashem, ever wary of loftier levels in Torah and avodah he has yet to reach. On the other hand, he must realize that, by virtue of his very being, he is always already justified; bound – by virtue of his essential holiness – to the Master of the world, without needing to do anything at all. These dual outlooks enable a Jew to enliven himself at all times: strengthening himself with the second perspective in times of failure and descent and compelling himself to ever loftier levels in times of success and spiritual ascent.

Perhaps the contradictory terms in our verse hint to these two aspects of a Jew’s outlook on his engagement with building a Mishkan within: On the one hand, “Dayum”: A Jew must know that even perfection is merely “enough”, and there is always more to accomplish. On the other hand, “V’hoser”: We must always be aware that even the smallest amount of effort is already “extra”, and that there is a level on which we need do nothing more to earn Hashem’s unconditional love.