parsha bit: Vayakheil-Pekudei

[cellio]

Rabbi Sh'muel bar Nachmani said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: Betzalel was so called on account of his wisdom. At the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moshe, "Go and tell Betzalel to make me a tabernacle, an ark and vessels", Moshe went and reversed the order, saying, "Make an ark and vessels and a tabernacle". Betzalel said to Moshe: "As a rule a man first builds a house and then brings vessels into it, but you say, make me an ark and vessels and a tabernacle. Where shall I put the vessels that I am to make? Can it be that the Holy One, blessed be He, said to you, make a tabernacle, an ark and vessels?" Moshe replied, "Perhaps you were in the shadow of God [1] and knew!" (B'rachot 55a)

[1] B'tzal Eil.

Comments

[cellio]

Ouch. You bring tears to my eyes. :-)