Do You Know How To Clap?

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

Clapping is a skill that is useful throughout life. As children we clap with delight. As adults we clap to express admiration for a job well done. But clapping comes in a most personal form as well. Clapping is the joining of two dimensions that seem to oppose. The first expectation of them converging on each other is conflict and disarray. But when these two forces come together correctly they produce a noteworthy sound.

In this week’s parsha we read of the partnership between Bitzalel of the tribe of Yehudah, and Oholiav of the tribe of Dan. The Torah is quite emphatic that the Mishkan can only be properly built through the partnership of these two great people, representing their tribes. Yehudah is the tribe of royalty; Dan is the humble tribe that takes in the downtrodden. By working together they were able to produce a Mishkan.

Picture the scene of Bitzalel and Oholiav working on a design. Certain things were Halacha. These they certainly observed meticulously. But there were aspects of the design that were left to the artisan’s discretion. Each person had his own perception of the proper way to honor Hashem. Bitzalel coming from a background of royalty would perceive that the Sanctuary should be built in a way that is bold and in the style of royalty, while Oholiav might see a softer, more sensitive and subtle design, as more in tune with the soft, and gentle voice of Hashem (Melochim 1,19: 11-12). Through partnership- by working through their perspectives- they were able to achieve the monumental accomplishment of building a Mishkan.

On the verse in Koheles (4:9), “Two are better than one,” Rashi declares, “For all things.” And so it is that we indeed find partnerships of opposing perspectives, whenever we encounter greatness.

Take Moshe and Ahron for example. These great brothers partnered in leading the Jewish people during the critical, formative years. They are described by our tradition as being quite different from one another. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 6) tells us that Moshe’s perspective was, “Let the law pierce the mountain!” That is, “Regardless of the obstacles and objections: Let the law be done.” But Ahron was one who “loved peace and pursued peace.” When Ahron encountered conflict he strove to settle things through compromise. It was when these two great partners blended their perspectives together, that a legacy of both law and of kindness was achieved.

Sometimes the two perspectives that need to be blended aren’t external to the person at all. On the one hand Jewish tradition teaches that a person should emulate Moshe who said, “We are nothing.” One the other hand we are told that we should live with the awareness that we are very special. We should say, “Because of me the world was created.” People wonder, “Isn’t this a contradiction?” But, as one Rabbi explained, “Each person has two pockets in his jacket. In one pocket is the statement that he is nothing, and in the other pocket is the statement that the whole world was created for him. The genius of successful living is to put the correct hand into the correct pocket at the correct time.” When someone offends our honor it might be more appropriate to think of ourselves humbly as Moshe did. When there is a need for action or kindness, we might well realize that all was orchestrated for us to live up to the moment. The absolute reality of our essence is the proper blending of these two perspectives.

Jewish scholarship is based on the awareness that it is by merging multiple perspectives that we can produce accuracy. This explains why so much study is Chavrusa based, focused on critical thinking. It is an effort to put our own perspective up for a second opinion, and thereby refine it. The Talmud (Baba Metziah 84) relates that Rabbi Yochanan became frustrated when his Chavrusa simply agreed to his opinions without proposing any objections. In contrast, Rabbi Yochanan was pleased that Reish Lakish would raise objections to things that he said. One day Reish Lakish was missing. Rabbi Yochanan expressed his disappointment by making a motion of clapping with one hand, illustrating that clapping simply can’t be done with one hand (Talmud Yerushalmi Horyos 3:1).

No wonder that when one overcomes a challenge and reaches success… we clap. Adversity and a different perspective aren’t obstacles to success. Rather they are opportunities to learn how to clap, to blend the left with the right, and polish the diamonds so that they will shine ever so brightly.

© 2016 by TEACH613™