A Masterpiece of Divine Light
The Menorah was a breathtaking masterpiece, more than just a ritual object— it was a living symbol of Divine light and inspiration. Hammered from a single piece of pure gold, it shimmered with the glow of perfection, adorned with delicate engravings of flowers and almond blossoms. Every detail, every curve, reflected both artistry and holiness.
Hashem (God) originally commanded Moshe (Moses) to craft this elaborate Menorah himself. Yet Moshe quickly realized the task was beyond human ability. Chazal (our Sages) teach that he struggled to shape it correctly. Hashem then instructed him to throw a large bar of gold into the furnace. Miraculously, a complete and flawless Menorah emerged, perfectly formed with all its intricate details and exact measurements (Bamidbar Rabbah 15:4).
“Te’aseh HaMenorah” — It Shall Be Made
This miraculous process is beautifully hinted at in the Torah’s wording: “Te’aseh haMenorah” – “The Menorah shall be made” (Shemot 25:31). Notice the passive form. It does not say “you shall make” the Menorah, but “it shall be made.” Moshe’s role was to begin the process, to act with effort, to throw the gold into the fire. But the final, perfect Menorah came forth through Hashem’s will. In other words, we do what we can, and Hashem completes the rest— the work that is beyond our power.
Why Command the Impossible?
The Sefat Emet (Terumah: 631) asks a profound question: If Hashem knew that Moshe could not create the Menorah on his own, why command him to do so in the first place?
He explains that Hashem wanted to teach Moshe, and all of us, an essential lesson. To accomplish anything meaningful, we must first set the goal and invest our maximum effort. We must toil, struggle, and do all that is within our capacity. Only after we have done our part does the final result come from Hashem’s loving hand. The Menorah itself exemplifies this: Moshe did his part, and the rest was a miraculous gift.
Yagati u’Matzati — Toiling and Finding
This idea connects beautifully to the teaching in the Talmud: “Yagati u’Matzati, Ta’amin” — “If one says, ‘I toiled and I found,’ believe him (Megillah 6b).”
The choice of words is precise. Yagah — to toil — implies real, intense effort. Metziah — to find — implies something that comes almost effortlessly, like discovering a hidden treasure. The Chiddushei HaRim explains that this teaches us: on our side, there must be sincere effort — yegiah. But when success comes, it is not solely the product of our work. It is a metziah — a find, a gift we did not truly earn. We toil — and then we discover.
Wisdom: The Ultimate Undeserved Gift
We see this principle reflected in our prayers. In the Shemoneh Esrei, most blessings begin directly with a request. Yet the blessing Atah Chonen — “You graciously grant man wisdom” — begins differently. We first acknowledge Hashem as the source of intellect before asking for it.
Rav Avigdor Miller explains that since we constantly use our intellect throughout the day, we are more likely to take it for granted and credit ourselves. So before asking Hashem for wisdom, we first recognize it as a gift from Him (Sha’arei Orah, Vol. 2, p.15).
Rav Shimshon Pincus notes that the word chonen — graciously grant — comes from the root chinam, meaning “undeserved.” Indeed, intellect is a completely undeserved gift (Tiferet Shimshon, Chukat).
The Chovot HaLevavot writes that Hashem’s greatest gift to man is intellect and the ability to discern (Sha’ar Habechinah, Ch. 5). It allows us to live, learn, remember, and make wise decisions. We must internalize that our intelligence is not only the product of effort, but a direct gift from Hashem. Recognizing this inspires us to use it correctly.
Effort Is Ours — Results Are His
This applies to all accomplishments. Our responsibility is the effort — the yegiah. But the results? They are a metziah — an undeserved gift from Hashem.
The renowned personality Rav Zevi Golumbek shares a powerful story. There was a rabbi who was extremely active in teaching Torah and participating in communal and chessed (lovingkindness) projects. He was constantly on his feet, helping others.
Tragically, he developed a severe medical condition and became immobile, confined to a wheelchair. Many would have assumed his active life of chessed had ended. Yet he remained deeply involved, constantly on the phone, guiding and supporting others.
He explained that although he could no longer walk, his intellect remained intact. He felt blessed to still think, plan, and inspire. Even in physical limitations, he could continue contributing. He understood that his gift of intellect was not earned but given. It was now his responsibility to use it properly and continue his projects to the best of his ability.
Throwing the Gold into the Fire
Like the Menorah, we do our part — we throw the gold into the fire. And then, “te’aseh” — Hashem completes the work.
By Rabbi Daniel Shasha, author of “Living Appreciation”
