This week is Parshas Pekudei. Over the last few weeks the Parsha discusses the building of the Mishkan and all the parameters and laws for it. Anywhere between how big, what goes in it, and who works where and why. Now, we finally get to the point where the Mishkan is finished. Moshe Rabbeinu was upset that he wasn’t a participant in the Mishkan, but in the end everyone tried to put it up although only Moshe could actually erect it. Even though he was the ONLY one who could finish the job, the Torah doesn’t mention his Simcha/Happiness. Why wasn’t he ecstatic? He was the only Jew who could finish the building of G-d’s home. Of course he must’ve been happy to an extent, who wouldn’t be, but he was also sad because the other members of Bnei Yisrael were disappointed that they weren’t involved in the final building of the Holy Tabernacle. The valuable lesson taken away from this, at least for me, is that at the end of the day, no matter how happy one is, if you’re friends can’t share the same joy it isn’t true Simcha.

Thank you, Good Shabbos!!

Dovi Herman