What did Moshe Rabbeinu say to them? What b’rachah, blessing, did he give them? Yehi ratzon she’tishreh Shechinah, b’maaseh ye’deichem; “May it be the will of Hashem that the Shechinah rest upon your handiwork.” This blessing begs elucidation. A blessing adds benefit; it elevates; it aspires for more. The Mishkan was built already, the work of Bnei Yisrael complete. Its entire purpose was for the Shechinah to rest on it. What is the purpose of the b’rachah?
Horav Boruch Dov Povarsky, Shlita, explains that the Mishkan was a spiritual edifice. It manifested itself in material/physical components, but its essence was spiritual. As such, it has never been completed: It is constantly being built through our positive actions. Moshe’s b’rachah was that the Shechinah should always rest on our constant building.
Chazal teach that Hashem desires a dirah b’tachtonim, a dwelling place in this world. (Understandably, this concept is beyond the scope of this paper.) A dwelling must be lived in if it is not to deteriorate. So, too, a Mishkan comprised of yesterday’s achievements cannot contain the Shechinah of today. A mundane structure is completed once the last stone is set. The Mishkan, however, has never truly been completed. It is built continuously by our positive efforts. Every mitzvah, every bit of Torah study, every act of chesed, adds another beam, another dimension.
A Mishkan that does not shteig, that does not grow and ascend constantly, is inherently flawed. There is no such thing as neutral ground, status quo, in spiritual life. To remain static is tantamount to regression. One either ascends or descends. A life devoted to Hashem must be one of constant growth and forward movement.
Moshe blessed the artisans that the Shechinah should rest on their handiwork – not only as a response to past achievement, but as a charge for the future. As they would do more, Hashem would bless their initiative. Perhaps there is one more idea to add to this. We are charged, V’asu Li Mikdash; “And they shall make for Me a Sanctuary.” Many people fulfill the enjoinment of v’asu – they are doing, acting, achieving. But how many fulfill the Li, for Me? How many are sincere and genuine in their efforts? V’asu goes hand in hand with Li – otherwise it is not v’asu.
