by Rabbi David Saltzman
The Kli Yakar wonders why there seems to be a repetition at the end of this week's parasha regarding the people following the instructions when building the Mishkan. In perek 39 pasuk 32 it states that
וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כְּ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה ה' אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ
and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.
And a few pesukim later, in pasuk 42, it also records that
כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה ה' אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה כֵּ֤ן עָשׂוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת כָּל־הָעֲבֹדָֽה׃
According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.
Only 10 pesukim apart, the Torah records the same basic information.
What does each phrase mean?
The Kli Yakar answers that the first stage, which is described in pasuk 32, was the completion of each individual item of the Mishkan. Each specific vessel and each particular aspect of the Mishkan was completed perfectly as G-d commanded.
Then when the Mishkan was assembled in its entirety, which is described in pasuk 42, Moshe made sure that all the independent pieces and parts fit together to make a perfect building, as the Kli Yakar writes:
כי היה בהם טוב כללי שנעשו על הסדר הנכון דהיינו חיבור כל העבודה ביחד
(Moshe saw) that there was total perfection and that they did everything according to plan. Meaning, each individual element of the building came together as one unit.
Like the Mishkan, Maimonides is made up of many individual people who collectively make this school so special. Each student is part of a class, which is part of a grade, which is part of a division, which altogether make Maimonides a great place, from the Early Childhood Center through 12th grade.
At this collective level, when we come together as a group to learn, to talk, to daven, to play, and to enjoy each other's company, and we experience the school as a whole... there is no other place like Maimonides.
Similarly, each minute at Maimonides is notable - filled with learning, fun, friends, and good memories. All these minutes make up classes which combine and become years of study, woven into the tapestry of our glorious 80-year history. Our individual time at Maimonides becomes part of the greater experience, shared with everyone who preceded us and with those who will follow. Like Moshe, we can look back at the sum total of these 80 years and be proud of the impact the school has made on us individually, and the collective influence Maimonides has had on the Orthodox world at large.
Just as Moshe gave a bracha that the people should be successful with their work, so too we bless Maimonides so it should continue to be a strong, pioneering, dynamic, and important school within the Jewish community for many more years to come.
