Even though it might seem to many that the women’s role in judaism is one of inferiority as she is not found in positions of leadership or the realm of scholars and writings and is assigned the tasks of housekeeping, we must look deeper to find how praised and high the position of the woman actually is. When i first started leaning about judaism, i always felt that women were supressed, forced to take on tasks that make men’s life easier so they can study and envelop themselves in torah while the women never got a chance to enjoy the delights of learning and thinking. As i learned more about g-ds intent in creating two genders, two energys and opposing, yet perfectly cooperative forces of male and female, i started to gain a richer understanding of the hidden powers of the woman. Last week, we celebrated purim and learned about Esther’s hidden wisdom. We as women don’t have the nature of active, outward activity, we usually don’t flourish when we take in positions of leadership – rather, our nature is of the heart’s wisdom, latent but powerful, holding together families and silently supporting, without the need for external recognition or appearence. The woman’s power unfolds “behind the scenes” an that has nothing to do with oppression but rather shows inherent modesty. Some people might say it is an out-dated mindset, that we need to be modern and move on.. i would argue that a look at today’s society with it’s loss of values and discarding of morals shows how big of a lack of timeless wisdom there is, wisdom that the torah is an unexaustable well of. This week’s parasha, vayakhel, teaches us about the woman’s contribution in building the mishkan – the topic mentioned most, indicating that what is dearest to Hashem is humanity making a dwelling place for Him down in the physical world (which the mishkan is). (Even though the torah only specifically commands the jews to build a literal house for G-d, every person can learn from this concept, we all are creations made by Him and He desires everyone’s endevour to reveal Him through good deeds and spreading love and peace.)
| כווְכָ֨ל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָשָׂ֥א לִבָּ֛ן אֹתָ֖נָה בְּחָכְמָ֑ה טָו֖וּ אֶת־הָֽעִזִּֽים: |
“And all the skilled women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen. And all the women who excelled in that skill spun the goats’ hair.”
The women’s contribution to the mikdash was the spinning of goat-hair, which is a unique skill – “any woman who was wise-hearted spun with her hands”. It is very beautiful to read about everyone’s hastiness to contribute and help in their own ways to build the mishkan. The command to knit fabrics to cover the Mishkan was exceeded by the woman (and the woman only get credit for creating something extra) as they did it with their own hands and special complicated techniques, putting in more effort out of their own will because that is the highest contribution – own, personal talent and skill to beautify Hashem’s dwelling place. It says that the women were “wise-hearted” – understanding with emotional intelligence (which the term wise-hearted alludes to) that they needed to contribute more than just precious metals, wood and jewels. It isn’t the buying of ingredients and their combination in a pot that makes a meal taste special but the love and personal additions from experience. It isn’t spending money or material that makes a gift special but the personal effort and time which was invested.
I believe there are two main points we can learn from this parasha. Firstly, the women teach us that we can not be square – minded; there is wisdom that can not be acquired through our minds alone, we must seek an internal wisdom of the heart, a certain sensitivity which helps prevent people from suffering and pain but also aids in creating deeper relationships to the people around us and Hashem.
Secondly, all of us are given special abilities (just as the women spinning goat’s hair to thread) by no one but G-d! These should be used to serve Him. In order to do that, we must become conscious of them. What are your personal strengths, assets and skills that make you different from the rest? Expand them, work on them and express yourself through them because this is the way Hashem wants you to contribute to the world, serving Him and through that creating a Mishkan for Him do dwell in!
Taking time to make art and writing is crucial for me, even tho I could be learning Torah instead, which is important but we must find healthy structures which allow us to explore and improve on our individual talents. I believe that is what G-d wants, otherwise He would not have gifted it to every individual. Don’t get caught up in studies, university or work if it doesn’t allow for your special abilities to flourish. That is the purpose of life, to beautify it in ways only you can instead of following what people tell you success means. True prosperity doesn’t come from a 9-5 job and a steady salary but through expressing your individual spark which G-d intended you to embody.
Thx rabbi barnatan (& machon alte) for bringing me close to these concepts!
Also check out this video my friend hannah showed me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfjLSaGbrNs of a tour of what the beit hamikdash looked like.. can’t wait for it’s rebuilding please G-d in our times, for the whole world seeing and recognizing that all there is is Hashem. Love u Hashem thank u for life, even all the pain and struggle.
Shabbat Shalom <3