Closing Message - Rav Ezra
How do we know when to stop?
One segment in this week’s Parsha has often jumped out at me: In order to get people to stop bringing goods to the Mishkan — (Shemot 36:6-7), they make sure the word gets around:
(ו) וַיְצַ֣ו מֹשֶׁ֗ה וַיַּעֲבִ֨ירוּ ק֥וֹל בַּֽמַּחֲנֶה֮ לֵאמֹר֒ אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה אַל־יַעֲשׂוּ־ע֛וֹד מְלָאכָ֖ה לִתְרוּמַ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וַיִּכָּלֵ֥א הָעָ֖ם מֵהָבִֽיא׃ (ז) וְהַמְּלָאכָ֗ה הָיְתָ֥ה דַיָּ֛ם לְכׇל־הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אֹתָ֑הּ וְהוֹתֵֽר
(6) Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman make anything else for the offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing. (7) For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
I love that literally, a voice is “passed around the camp” — letting people know that there is too much material for the temple (probably the first and last time a Jewish organization told people to stop giving!), giving us a window into a unique communication moment during the time in the desert.
Additionally, there is a deep connection to Shabbat — which the Parsha opens with (35:2-3), and in the parallel of ויכלא, “restrained,” to ויכולו in Bereishit, when God enters into Shabbat— as the 7th day functions a cessation of the various works of the week. In fact, this is one of the verses used by Chazal to indicate that carrying is a prohibition on Shabbat!
To me, this amounts to two curious implications and opportunities for further thinking: there are moments where we’ve given too much, from either our perspective or the recipient’s — and it can be okay to stop. No one will tell us directly, but we have to listen out for the word being passed around.
Second — Shabbat is not only about resting or taking a break — but also a deliberate act of restraint. Of course there is more to be done, and yet there is a deep, often unrecognized and unseen power in holding-back, making and creating space, and seeing what comes next.
Reminder to all to take good care of ourselves and each other. Try to do something specific today that strengthens you, and something else that strengthens someone else.
