In this week’s parsha, Parshas Pekudei, the pasuk (39:43) states מג  וַיַּרְא מֹשֶׁה אֶת-כָּל-הַמְּלָאכָה, וְהִנֵּה עָשׂוּ אֹתָהּ–כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה, כֵּן עָשׂוּ; וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם, מֹשֶׁה. “Vayevarech otam Moshe –and Moshe blessed Bnei Yisroel”. Rashi explains that the bracha was, יהי רצון “Yehi ratzon sh’tishre shechina b’maasei yedeichem – May it be the will that the Shechina rest in the work of your hands.” One must wonder: when the bracha of a “Yehi ratzon” is said, it is generally followed with the words “m’lifnei avinu shebashomayim- may it be the will of our Father in Heaven…” or “m’lifanecha Hashem Elokai v’Elokei avosai –may it be Your will, Hashem, my G-d and the G-d of my forefathers…”. Yet here, although Moshe’s bracha began with the formula of “Yehi ratzon”, it didn’t specify whose ratzon it was. Perhaps we can explain Rashi as follows: in order for it to be the will of Hashem that the Shechina ESSENSE OF HASHEM reside in our homes and in all that we do, it must first be OUR ratzon– our will and desire that the Shechina reside among us. When we exhibit this behavior – that it is truly our burning and passionate desire that the Shechina ESSENSE OF HASHEM dwells with us, then and only then, does it become the ratzon of Hashem. May we merit, as we build our own Mishkan, that yehi ratzon- it should be our desire to have a home where the ESSENSE OF HASHEM Shechina feels comfortable, and then we will merit ‘Yehi ratzon m’lifnei avinu shebashomayim’ that it will become the will of our Father in heaven!

By Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro / Congregation Shaaray Tafilah

(305) 651-1562 ● [email protected]