Ulpana Girls Academy - Kiryat Arba
"Moses said to the Children of Israel 'See, Hashem has proclaimed by name, Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah'." (Shmot 35, 30)
"Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur": with these words a boy of only
13 years (according to the Gemara in Masechet Sanhedrin, Daf 69, Amud B)
was introduced to B'nei Yisrael as the one chosen by the Almighty (who
shortly will dwell amidst them through the agency of the Mishkan) to instill
within him the spirit of wisdom, understanding and knowledge, so that the
construction of the Mishkan and its vessels could be called by his name.
How did this lad merit this honor?
ChaZal gives us an answer: "for he dedicated his soul (to the work of the Mishkan)". (Shmot Raba, Parsha 50, Letter Gimel) And from where did he get such dedication? The text helps us to understand this since it bothered to define his lineage back to his grandfather ("son of Uri son of Hur"). His grandfather, Hur, dedicated himself totally and was killed during his attempt to prevent the making of the Golden Calf - and was rewarded for this deed by the above mentioned appointment of his grandson Bezalel. (Shmot Raba, Parsha 41, letter Zayin; Parsha 48, letter Gimel)
We ask further, where did this dedication that his grandfather revealed come from? It seems that Hur is the son of Calev Ben Yefuneh (Shmot Raba, Parsha 40, Letter Daled) who became known the following year for his dedication to Eretz Yisrael when he risked his life in order to prevent (without success) the Sin of the Spies (Masechet Megila, Daf 13, Page A); and by virtue of this, HaKadosh Baruch Hu called him, "My servant, Caleb". (BaMidbar 14, 24) We learn from all of the above sources, therefore, to realize that in the very veins of th
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Shalom Horowitz
Rabbi Horowitz is a Rav Mechanech at the Ulpana
Girls Academy - Kiryat Arba
Please address your questions or comments to the Ulpana
Girls Academy - Kiryat Arba
