Parashat Pekudei Ruach HaKodesh

0:03The parasha has an enormous amount of Torah in it, but most of it, if you look at it, is something from which you could learn and enjoy the learning, and learn a lot of different things. However, it seems like you can't really apply it to your life. You'll get the reward for simply learning unless you pay attention to the details, which, of course, there is mussar to learn everywhere. One of the first things that we learn in the beginning of the parsha, the Midrash says, is that the son of Uri, son of who? The tribe of Yehuda did everything that Hashem commanded Moshe. What do you mean commanded Moshe? You mean that everything that Moshe commanded you? No, everything that Hashem commanded Moshe, meaning that Bezalel got Ruach HaKodesh, to not only do everything that Moshe told him, but also everything that Moshe forgot to tell him, but Hashem told Moshe.

1:17such an extent that when Moshe Rabbeinu saw the work that Bezalel did, he knew that he forgot to tell him about it. Moshe was like, "Wait, how did you do this when I didn't tell you how to do it? Were you listening in on my conversation between me and Hashem?" That's how much ruach. Now, of course, a tzaddik like Moshe has to have tzaddikim around him. But one of the extraordinary examples of the righteousness of Moshe Rabbeinu is actually presented in this parsha. In this parsha that seems like it's repeating the same thing, it actually has new mussar lessons for us to apply and really get ourselves into a better position in life because a person could be aware of the truth. Know the truth. Witness the truth with us and learn the truth with us, as we have been teaching for the last 10-plus years. Yet, people still live a lie. Still live a lie. A person can know the truth but live a lie. Why? Because knowledge is not necessarily something that always motivates a person enough to take action.

2:45Where a person can know the truth but still live a lie. In fact, this is the reason why Rav Chaim Kanievsky writes in his sefer called Orchos Yosher that the hardest character trait to master is emet, living the truth. Knowing the truth is not that difficult. Why? The truth is available to us, all you need to know. is where it is, which is in the Torah, then delve into it and delve into it, and you will be enamored by it. But in order for you to be able to apply this truth to your life, first and foremost, a person has to have fear of Heaven, meaning they need to know that there's a consequence for knowing the truth. There's an even bigger consequence for ignoring the truth. Now, Aside from that, a person has to humble themselves in order to be able to apply more of the truth to their life because even if one knows the truth, in order to live the truth, they have to humble themselves by acknowledging the fact that knowing is not enough, and in fact,

4:06the fact that I know the truth obligates me even more. And even though I disagree with the truth, that just puts me in the wrong position because the truth doesn't change. The truth is not subjective. The truth is not based on your perspective. The truth is the truth whether you acknowledge it or not. And when we tell people the truth, sometimes they take it to heart and apply it. But unfortunately, many times they just have a limit. They accept, they accept, they accept. Yes. Keep Shabbat. Yes, that mitzvah. Ah, yes, you know, make a few donations. Yes, you know, learn Torah. But if you said that, oh, that's where their line is. That's where their line is. Sometimes they take it to heart and apply it, but unfortunately, many times, they just have a limit. They accept, they accept, they accept. Yes, keep Shabbat. Yes, attend shiurim. Ah, yes, you know, make a few donations. Yes, you know, learn Torah, but if you said that, oh, that's where their line is. That's where their line is. And unfortunately, Rabotai, that red line, where a person knows the truth but ignores it, is the beginning of living a lie. We must reach such a high level of kedusha through Torah learning and good deeds that we finally realize everything comes from Hashem. The decree didn't come from Haman, and the salvation didn't come from Mordechai. Everything is from HaKadosh Baruch Hu. All your problems are not caused by others. It's Hashem talking to you, trying to get your attention.