וכל חכם לב בכם יבאו ויעשו את כל אשר צוה ד’. את המשכן את אהלו ואת מכסהו את קרסיו ואת קרשיו את בריחו את עמדיו ואת אדניו. (שמות ל”ה י’-י”א)
“It was not necessary for Moshe to specify for them point by point all that must be done… rather he abridged it for them. For example, if he said that they should make the Mishkan with ten curtains, five facing five, they understood that they should make facing loops and golden hooks. And likewise, regarding all the work, he would mention the matter concisely, and they understood completely. Therefore, the verse does not speak of these details at length, hinting to their (the craftsmen) wisdom and understanding and fine insight.”
(Ramban, Shemos 36:8)
At home, school, and the workplace, we often find ourselves in positions where we must direct or instruct others. And we take for granted that the clearer and more detailed those instructions are, the better. That makes sense: if I have a better grasp of how the task should be carried out, why shouldn’t I try my best to “spell it out” for the person I am instructing? But frequently, this line of thinking fails to account for the human element of the task at hand.
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When it came time for Bnei Yisroel to begin their building, dying, weaving, and metalworking for the Mishkan, Moshe instructed them only in a general sense, omitting the fine details. But why? The building of the Mishkan was a singular endeavor, unlike anything that had been attempted before. Wouldn’t it have been prudent for Moshe to speak everything out extra thoroughly and clearly, just to make sure they got it right?
The answer is that the Mishkan – the resting place of the Shechinah – had to be prepared through the active involvement of Bnei Yisroel. Of course, Moshe Rabbeinu could have told them exactly what to, down to the tiniest detail, and they would have followed his instructions precisely… like parrots. But then, only their hands would have been involved in the building. That was not enough, Moshe wanted their minds to be involved, their understanding and wisdom.
This is the depth of the Ramban’s comment that the verse thus hints to “their wisdom and understanding and fine insight.” More than a noteworthy side point, the Ramban is telling us that this was their involvement in the building of the Mishkan. They gave of their wisdom and understanding and insight; that was their contribution.
Precisely because the building of the Mishkan was such a monumental undertaking, and so important, Moshe did not give exhaustive, meticulously detailed instructions. He wanted the workers themselves to be involved, so he had to leave them “room”.
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If, for example, you pay someone to paint a fence, you probably don’t care if the painter “feels” involved in the project or not, or if he utilizes his creative talents, so you just tell him exactly what you want done. But more often than not, when you give instructions, you do want the other person to be involved in a meaningful way. Even when sending a child on a simple chore, say to buy something at the store, you want him to identify with what he is doing and enjoy himself, instead of mechanically following orders. You also want him to feel that he contributed more than just “physical labor”, that he did things “his way”. The way to make the other person feel involved is to not overburden him with the details, and allow him to find his own way.
Good Shabbos.
