Teruma - Finding Our Purpose in Life
By Rabbi Yaacov Haber

Whatever happened to Betzalel?

The Talmud tells a story. Rabbi Tarphon was ill and his very important friends, Rabbi Akiva, Rabban Gamliel and others, came to visit. They met his mother at the door crying. She pleaded with the Tzaddikim to “please pray for her son Tarphon - he is such a good son.” She proceeded to tell them how once she was walking with her son Tarphon and her sandal slipped away. Tarphon immediately kneeled before his mother, putting his hand under each of her feet as she walked, so that she would not feel the pain of the stones and the twigs. Rabbi Akiva upon hearing this story declared, “Tarphon has not even reached half of the obligation of a son to a mother!”

Such harsh words! What could be greater? What could you do more for your mother than walk backward before her on your knees with your hands under her bare feet?!

I heard a fascinating explanation for this in the name of Rav J.B. Soloveitchik z"l. If you would have asked Rabbi Tarphon why he was created and what his purpose in life was, he would certainly have told you that he saw himself as one of the Baalei Mesorah - which he was. It was his job to soak in Torah from the previous generation, analyze it, and transmit it to the next generation, which he did. Certainly a worthy purpose. But when the Gedolim heard of the exemplary way in which Tarphon treated his mother, they realized that his purpose was perhaps an even deeper one. He would be the paragon of kibud eim. His job was to set an example, and be a role model to the next generation, of how to treat a mother. This was to be Rabbi Tarphon’s special contribution.

Rabbi Akiva realized that perhaps he had so excelled in his mission that G-d was ready to take him from this world. Rabbi Akiva’s statement “Tarphon has not even reached half of the obligation a son has to a mother!” was really a bracha, namely that Rabbi Tarphon had not yet fulfilled his purpose, and so would go on living!

The People of Israel had just walked away from Mt. Sinai. Our hands were still calloused from two hundred and ten years of working with bricks and mortar. G-d put forth an historical challenge: “Build Me a Mishkan.” It must shine with its beauty and stand out in its glory. Who is going to make it shine? Who will bring forth its glory?

A thirteen-year-old boy came forward. Everyone knew the family. His grandfather was Chur, the son of Caleb, who had been killed trying to stop the golden calf from being built. His grandmother Miriam, Chur’s wife, was Moshe’s sister, a prophetess and the redeemer of the Jewish people. But who was this wunderkind Betzalel?

Betzalel was a gaon. He was not only an expert craftsman and artist, he was a Kabbalist who understood how to design the names representing the attributes of G-d into his work. He inherited a sense of zeal and mission from both his grandparents. At thirteen years old he stepped forward, and was ordained from above as being “in the Shadow of G-d”. He designed and built the holiest and most beautiful structure in history - and then he disappeared. Throughout the rest of Tanach he is never mentioned again!

Betzalel had his unique purpose in the world. “There is no person that does not have a moment” (Pirkei Avos). When one goes to the movies one sees hundreds of people. Some are stars, and some are extras. But in G-d’s world there are no extras. There is a reason that every one of us was born. We each have our fifteen minutes (at least) of fame.

Everybody knows that the reason Esther became Achashveirosh’s queen was to save the Jewish people from Haman. It is clear to all of us, but it wasn’t clear to Esther. She was afraid to approach the king. She felt it wasn’t her place. Mordechei told her, “Maybe that is why you’re the queen.” Maybe! Esther didn’t realize it, and Mordechei posed the question. With the benefit of hindsight we can all see it clearly.

None of us know exactly why we were created. As we are called upon to do things, we cannot be sure if we are now realizing our purpose in life. Esther didn’t know. Perhaps even the great Rabbi Tarphon didn’t know! Maybe our minds are clouded by our ideas of what we should become, and G-d’s idea just gets in the way.

The lesson from Betzalel, Esther and, after them, Rabbi Tarphon, is that the next time you are called upon to do a task, however uncomfortable, for your family, your friends, or your people - rise to the call. Do it like a hero. Mi yodea - who knows? Maybe it was for this very moment that you were born into the world!

This Dvar Torah was dedicated by my good freind from Monsey, Charles Grandovsky, in memory of Maras Golda Rivka bas Chizkiyahu HaKohen. May her neshama have an aliya.

So thats the way it works? After you take care of your tafkid you die?

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Can't you have more than one tafkid?

Beats me. I didnt know I had any.

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I like this essay. Thank you.

Yasher koach; that's beautiful, Rabbi Haber.

Essentially,yes.

So if I wanted to have more time to do mitzvos and learn torah, I should avoid accomplishing my tafkid?

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and talk less so you don't use up your alloted words, after which you die

We only have one tafkid - purpose here. That may entail more than one "mission", but our one tafkid is to accomplish that.

How do you know that?

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I read it on h.com. Multiple threads. Sourced in Chassidic thought.

Interesting. I think I'll just talk in sign language.

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Or Davanese.

Why has no one responded in that thread?


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"God put me on earth to do a certain number of things. Right now I'm so far behind that I'll never die"

Is that really the way it works?

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No.
"...v'lo atah ben chorin lihebatel mimena."

What is that referring to? Not being able to avoid completing your tafkid?

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Along the same lines:
I've heard that mashiach wont be coming because we're worthy and earned it, but rather because we're so depraved and too far gone.

So lets do our best at being bad to ensure his coming?


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I don't think that the point of what Rabbi Haber was trying to teach us is that once we fulfil our tafkid we die, but rather that we need to realize that we may be here for a very specific purpose (or purposes) and that we may not always recognize what that is. Therefore, seize the Mitzvah (as well as the day) and do each and Mitvah that comes your way with gusto (sorry, couldn't think of a better word) - EVEN IF IT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ENJOYABLE OR "WORTHWHILE" TASK!

In terms of Rav Soloveitchik's understanding of the Rabbi Tarfon story, Rabbi Akiva was making an arguement (so to speak) on behalf of Rabbi Tarfon. He was in essence saying that HaKadush Baruch Hu needs to give him more time in this world. That doesn't mean that the second that someone fulfills their tafkid they die, but just that not having yet fulfilled their tafkid can be a reason to extend one's life. I doubt that we really know G-d's calculation when it comes to when and why someone dies. Certainly this is not a question that can easily be answered with a yes or a no.

In short, the point is not to figure out how you can "outsmart" G-d and grab a few more years on your life, but rather to look for clues or indications of what it is you are suppose to do with those years that G-d gave you.

All the best,

Moshe

Whats the difference?


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The difference is simple -- just because one's life can be extended if he hasn't yet fulfilled his tafkid (particularly if he has earnestly been involved in trying to fulfill it) does not mean that one will die the second that he fulfills it.

Perhaps an example will help -- imagine that you are eating at a restaurant and haven't yet finished your meal. You'll most likely will not want to leave until you finish your meal. That doesn't mean, though, that the second that you finish your meal you will want to leave. So too, HaKadush Baruch Hu wants to give people a chance to finish their tafkid in life and will often times extend their lives in order to give them an opportunity to do so. That doesn't mean, though, that the second that you finish your tafkid in this world you die.

With that said -- I again want to point out that how HaKadush Barucha Hu decides when someone dies is not as important to understand as it is to know how He wants us to live. Rabbi Haber's dvar Torah focused on the how to live aspect of life -- I think we should too.

I understand the difference. My point is that if you wanted to extend your life you would push off completing your tafkid.

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I don't think that G-d is so easily fooled.

That's also why I wrote that one is honestly trying to fulfill his tafkid. Going back to the restaurant example -- parents aren't going to wait around for their kids to finish their meal if their kids are refusing to eat. But, if they are eating, just slower than everyone else, they'll wait for them.

I don't understand the comparison.

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If G-d sees that you are trying to fulfill your tafkid in life then I imagine that He'd be willing to extend your life to help you fulfill your tafkid. If G-d notices that you are not trying to fulfill your tafkid in life then I doubt that He'd extend you that favor.

So it depends if you're trying, not on results?

(How does one know what their tafkid is anyway?)


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Sfas Emes says that after Yaakov Avinu finished his tafkid Hashem gave him a new name-Yisroel, to start a new tafkid. I always loved that vort.

I just heard something similar (sorta) that Yisro had 7 names because he had 7 daughters, and after he married each one off he had to change his name because he was bankrupt.

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Somehow I doubt it’s actually Rabbi Haber posting here.

mosheshmeal
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I am not actually Rabbi Haber posting but i am his son posting for him!

Why don't you change your screenname to rabbihabersson?

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Good boy. Remember never to turn away a guest.

mosheshmeal
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