Betzalel and the Spiritual Legacy
Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh | March 12, 2025
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Betzalel and the Spiritual Legacy

Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh | June 27, 2025

See, I have called by name Betzalel the son of Uri the son of Chur, from the tribe of Yehud...

The Ohr Hachaim explains that the possuk quoting the names of two generations of his ancestors is to hint at his spiritual level. His name was בְצַלְאֵל, which can be understood as צל לא-ל – a shadow to Hashem. He was the son of אוּרִ י, because he made a place for He to whom the light belongs. He, in turn, was the son of חוּר. This is similar to the word חרות – freedom. His actions freed Klal Yisroel from the shackles of their aveira of the Golden Calf. The possuk calls the Mishkan מִש ְׁכַּןְׁהָּׂעֵדֻת. Chazal tell us that the Mishkan served as witness to the fact that Hashem forgave Klal Yisroel for their aveira.

This is why the possuk continues with the words וָּאֲמַלֵא אֹתוֹ רוּחַ א -לֹוקים - I have filled him with the spirit of Hashem. The וי"ו denotes that this is a continuation of the previous possuk. Not only did Bezalel have all of these qualities, but he was also filled with the spirit of Hashem.

The Torah then says that he was filled with Hashem’s spirit בְחׇכְמָּה – with wisdom. This alludes to that which the Gemara says about Bezalel יָּהֵב חׇכְמְתָּא לְחַכִימִין - He gives wisdom to the wise. Hashem added wisdom to that which Bezalel had already accumulated. This is the meaning of the ב at the beginning of the word. The Divine spirit was added to the wisdom already present in Bezalel.

See, I have called by name Betzalel the son of Uri the son of Chur, from the tribe of Yehud...

The Ohr Hachaim explains that the possuk quoting the names of two generations of his ancestors is to hint at his spiritual level. His name was בְצַלְאֵל, which can be understood as צל לא-ל – a shadow to Hashem. He was the son of אוּרִ י, because he made a place for He to whom the light belongs. He, in turn, was the son of חוּר. This is similar to the word חרות – freedom. His actions freed Klal Yisroel from the shackles of their aveira of the Golden Calf. The possuk calls the Mishkan מִש ְׁכַּןְׁהָּׂעֵדֻת. Chazal tell us that the Mishkan served as witness to the fact that Hashem forgave Klal Yisroel for their aveira.

This is why the possuk continues with the words וָּאֲמַלֵא אֹתוֹ רוּחַ א -לֹוקים - I have filled him with the spirit of Hashem. The וי"ו denotes that this is a continuation of the previous possuk. Not only did Bezalel have all of these qualities, but he was also filled with the spirit of Hashem.

The Torah then says that he was filled with Hashem’s spirit בְחׇכְמָּה – with wisdom. This alludes to that which the Gemara says about Bezalel יָּהֵב חׇכְמְתָּא לְחַכִימִין - He gives wisdom to the wise. Hashem added wisdom to that which Bezalel had already accumulated. This is the meaning of the ב at the beginning of the word. The Divine spirit was added to the wisdom already present in Bezalel.

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