Commandments in the Singular (Pekudei)

In Exodus 40, Hashem instructs Moshe when and how the Tabernacle will be set up. It is quite obvious from all that has been written that creating the Mishkan was a big job. There were large pieces and small pieces and notches to fit together and strings to be tied. When beginning the perek, it is easy to assume that Hashem was giving Moshe the instructions that he should pass on to the Children of Israel. But pasuk 16 make it clear: “This Moshe did, just as the Lord had commanded him so he did. Moshe set up the Tabernacle, placing its sockets, setting up its planks, inserting its bars, and erecting its posts” (40:16-17). The entirety of the description of the setting up of the Mishkan is written in third person singular. Moshe truly did “just as the Lord commanded,” for Hashem told Moshe “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting,” using the word ‘takim,’ which is second person singular.

What is the take-away is from the fact that Moshe was singularly commanded in the set-up of the Mishkan and that he did it himself in one day – in fact, the Midrash tells us that he set it up and took it apart every day for 7 days. As a mom to a busy family, I honestly think...well, I guess I may be able to accomplish more than I am giving myself room to do.

Looking deeper, perhaps Hashem was providing a very subtle lesson about leadership. The people donated the material for the mishkan and put their hard work and creativity into the pieces of the Mishkan, but Moshe, as the leader, was ultimately responsible for showing them how to put it together, to show them how to make it work. More than that, putting the Mishkan together was a big job and by Moshe doing it first, himself, he was showing all those who would ultimately be involved, exactly how important and doable the job was and would be. The physical toil of putting together the Mishkan was just as important as the karbanot. Perhaps that can be translated into an idea that physically or materially supporting the Torah community is as fundamental to our spiritual survival as the avodas of learning.