PARSHAS Pekudei 5785
Yoda, Fishing and Moshe
Rabbi Gabi Gittleson
Director
Yoda. The legendary master-teacher, known to millions across the world for his insights and leadership. Held in the highest ranks of fictional mentors and role models. At the risk of upsetting millions, I would like to use this week’s d’var Torah as a platform to publicly protest his most famous quote as anti-Torah values. “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” Allow me to explain.
This week’s Torah portion discusses the culmination of many weeks of compiling, calculating, donating and building all the components of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. As the central location for us to connect with Hashem, the Mishkan was a vital component within the fabric of Torah Jewry while in the desert. Hashem gave us guidelines and blueprints of how and what to build and the Jewish people got to work. Now all the pieces are ready, and they try to build it and guess what – the pieces are too heavy to lift and nothing can get erected.
Moshe was called over to try and see if he could assist. Rashi (Shemos 39:29) explains that Hashem recognized the fact that as the leader of the Jewish people, with many other responsibilities, Moshe did not have any role in the actual building of the Mishkan. So Hashem made the components of the Mishkan impossibly heavy, so no one could build it, except for Moshe. Hashem wanted Moshe to have a role in the building and told him to just go and try to pick up the components. Moshe, incredulous that a human could actually build something so physically and spiritually heavy, wasn’t sure he would be successful. So Hashem told him – just go over and perform the motions of building the Mishkan, but don’t worry, I will make sure they erect themselves miraculously.
Which means, that in essence, Hashem built and erected the Mishkan through a miracle. But he still wanted Moshe to go over and expend the effort. To try. Because that is all we can do in life. Try. Make some effort – known in Hebrew as hishtadlus. The results and accomplishments are all up to Hashem. The illustration below is one of my favorites and encapsulates this message well.
And please do me a favor: if you have any connections to George Lucas, please let him know it should be “Do. Or do not. It is all about the try.”
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