Divar Torah by Rabbi Guy Dvir - Parashat Vayakhel / Pekudei

Suspecting Others

Dear Friends, After the Mishkan (tabernacle) and all its holy vessels were completed, Moshe told the people of Israel, "Let me present to you an exact account of how I used the materials which you donated." The Midrash states that there were some Jews who actually suspected Moshe of embezzlement. Moshe had overheard remarks among the people. Some of them commented "Of late, Ben-Amram's (Moshe) neck is very fat!" And he heard the reply, "No wonder; he is in charge of all that money for the Mishkan!" Moshe then sworn to himself, "As soon as the Mishkan is built, I will render an exact account of the way I used the money!" The obvious question that we all may ask is, how could anyone suspect Moshe of embezzlement? Moshe was considered the most trust worthy individual within the Jewish people. He was pronounced by Ha'Shem, "Of all of My house, he is trustworthy". (Bamidbar 12:7) The answer to this question is found in an old Talmudic saying, "Anyone who declares others unfit, it is through his own blemish that he is unfit". That is to say, when someone suspects another person of having a blemish it is an indication that he himself has that same blemish. The reason why some people suspected Moshe of embezzlement is because those same people, had they been in Moshe's position, would have committed embezzlement. They suspected Moshe because they could not believe how anyone could be in charge of large sums of money and not take anything for himself. The fact is, that if they were in the same position they would have wanted to take some compensation for themselves.

A Life Lesson

There are times in life where we accuse others of acting unjustly towards us, or as possessing a character flaw. Before we judge others, we must ask ourselves whether or not we posses the same flaw that we ascribe to the other person. Sometimes, it may be our own blemish that we see in other people, but don't see in ourselves.