A nation of former slaves needed to build the Mishkan in the desert. To do this, many skilled workers were needed. People had to spin and weave, cut wooden boards, prepare bars and sockets, sew, and work with metals. But where would all these skilled workers come from? Bnei Yisrael had been slaves in Egypt!
The Ramban raises this very question:
כי ישראל במצרים פרוכים בעבודת חומר ולבנים, לא למדו מלאכת כסף וזהב וחרושת אבנים טובות ולא ראו אותם כלל. והנה הוא פלא שימצא בהם אדם חכם גדול בכסף ובזהב ובחרושת אבן ועץ וחושב ורוקם ואורג
Because the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt and worked hard with clay and bricks. They did not learn how to work with silver and gold, and they did not know how to work with precious stones. They had never even seen these things. So it is surprising that someone among them could be very skilled with gold and silver, with stone and wood, and know how to design, embroider, and weave.
When we look at this week's parsha, we can see a process. In the first stage, Moshe speaks to all of Bnei Yisrael and asks them to bring materials. At the same time, he invites people to join the work. The pasuk says: וְכָל-חֲכַם-לֵבבָּכֶם יָבֹאוּ וְיַעֲשׂוּ אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה, "And everyone among you who is wise of heart should come and make everything that G-d has commanded."
What was the requirement to join? Not experience, and not special training. Only to be "wise of heart," חכם לב. Someone who felt they could help. They would develop the necessary skills while doing the work.
After collecting many materials, the people still needed leaders to organize the work. In the next stage, we meet the people chosen to lead. Moshe already knew who they were from Parshat Ki Tisa, but the nation meets them now.
When Bezalel and Oholiav are named, Hashem explains who will be their staff:וְעָשׂוּ אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִךוּבְלֵב כָּל חֲכַם לֵב נָתַתִּי חָכְמָה, "And in the heart of every wise-hearted person I have placed wisdom, and they shall make everything that I have commanded you."
In the Midrash there is an interesting discussion about this point: Where is wisdom found? היכן היא החכמה מצויה ר' אליעזר אומר: בראש, ר' יהושע אומר: בלב. According to Rabbi Yehoshua, the phrase "wise of heart," חכם לב, describes a person with special wisdom and talent.
Rav Soloveitchik zt"l in Days of Remembrance explains that two aspects of each person are important. There is the wisdom of the head – thinking and understanding. And there is the wisdom of the heart – emotional and intuitive wisdom.
To build the Mishkan, both types of wisdom were needed. This means that wisdom of the heart is very important. It is not enough to be smart and talented. A person also needs to be sensitive, moral, and good to others.
Additionally, in our parsha we see not only חכמת הלב, wisdom of the heart, but also נדבת הלב, a generous heart. Each person brings their own talents and willingness to help.
Hoping we will always bring our wisdom of the heart and generosity of the heart to our families, friends, work, and community.
