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Purim Why specifically here, by the building of the Mishkan, did Moshe gather all the Jewish people and tell them that the work of the Mishkan does not take precedence over Shabbos? Answers the Eretz Chemda, at the time of receiving the Torah we are told that the Jewish people were all united. Later when they worshipped the calf it came from and caused dissension and fights. The building of the Mishkan, which atones for the worship of the Golden calf, needed to also be when we were all united. The building of the third Bais HaMikdash will only take place as well, when the Jewish people a united as one. Another answer may well be, Moshe saw here the potential for a major error. The work of the building of the Mishkan could be seen as having equal or greater importance than the commitment to rest on Shabbos or other Mitzvos. Sadly, today, there are many who see in the building of the State of Israel or perhaps in working and building their local synagogue as the their personal exchange for the performance of Mitzvos and the keeping of Shabbos. For this reason Moshe explicitly warned the entire community, the building of the most important building in the world does not take precedence over the keeping and sanctifying the day of Shabbos. Mr Freeman was a Hungarian refugee who arrived in Philadelphia after the 1956 Russian invasion. He came with around five thousand dollars and used this money to purchase textiles and open a textile shop with the others in the garment District. He sat in his shop for three weeks and not a single customer came through the door. On Friday of the fourth week a gentleman walked in. This fellow was a hotelier and was looking for textiles to make his curtains, bed linens etc. in his latest venture. After discussion a deal was struck, and Mr Freeman suggested that the gentlemen come back on Monday morning when he would measure up the textile. The hotlier turned round and said, "I am sorry, I intend to leave tomorrow. It is necessary to measure up now and if you do not wish to do so, their is no lack of competition on this road who will be happy to take the order." Mr Freeman responded, "I am sorry, I really would want this order, however, I am an observant Jew and Shabbos is more important to me than this business. I must close my shop now in order that I get home before Shabbos." Mr Freeman was bitterly disappointed, after all, he had been open for more than three weeks and this was his first customer and he was a major customer. Nevertheless, his commitment to Shabbos took precedence. On Monday morning when Mr Freeman opened his shop, in walked the hotelier from Friday. Mr Freeman turned to him and said, "what are you doing here I thought you were leaving on Saturday." The hotelier replied, "indeed, that was my intention. However, when I saw your commitment to your religious beliefs, I felt that this is an individual with whom I would like to do business. I therefore postponed my trip back and I propose that we start to measure up now." This hotelier went on to become the President of the Hoteliers Association in the United States, whenever he was asked, he recommended Mr Freeman for the textiles in all his colleagues hotels. In the merit of keeping that Shabbos, Mr Freeman has merited to support countless Torah Institutions, marry off numerous people who would otherwise not afford it and in general has been able to give Tzedakah with a broad hand, all because of honouring one Shabbos. I heard this story from Mr Freeman himself, who would relate it every year at Purim. |
