Frank Sinatra had a hit song called "Doing It My Way". But the Torah teaches us in this week's Parasha to do it G-D's Way! "And the Children of Israel did according to all that G-d commanded Moshe, so they did exactly" (Shemot 39).

 

Why does the Torah repeat in detail all the directions concerning the building of the Mishkan? And why does it mention whenever an aspect of the work was completed that it was performed exactly as G-D commanded Moshe? The Talmud notes that the phrase "as G-D commanded", occurs 18 times in this Parasha, and that the original 18 BRACHOT of the weekday AMIDAH were instituted to correspond to them (Yerushalmi Brachot 4).

 

But the question remains. Why the constant repetition of the Mishkan? Ramban gives two reasons for the repetition, 1) to show that the Mishkan was presented complete and in the proper order and 2) to reflect the love and esteem in which the Sanctuary was regarded by G-D. Ohr HaChaim states that the account of the Mishkan was recorded again and again, to demonstrate how G-D appreciates our efforts. Abarbanel's view is that the Torah repeated each detail of the Mishkan in order to stress its symbolic significance, as a model of both the physical and spiritual worlds. 

 

Another explanation for the repetition is given by HaAmek Davar, that we might have imagined that in their great desire for the SHECHINA to reside in their midst, the Jews went beyond what was commanded. The Torah therefore states that the Jews did only what G-D commanded Moshe.

 

The repetition of the phrase "as G-D commanded Moshe", has a powerful lesson for us today. The Torah is not ancient history. It is G-D's own personal GPS (G-D's Personal System). As is happening now at the Kotel, individuals or groups understand and interpret the Torah subjectively in accordance with their own selfish desires and circumstances. Such personal interpretations will not be in accordance with the true meaning of the Torah, as interpreted by our Holy Sages.

 

The phrase, "As G-D commanded Moshe", indicates that Moshe and Israel carried out every detail exactly according to G-D's will. When observing the Mitzvot, the Torah must be kept only G-D's Way, and not My Way. It is just amazing how the Parasha of the week always seems to address Current Events!