He's Got Yichus - Bezalel

It's been a long time since I posted but I wanted to share this teaching with everyone.

Our torah portion this week (pikuedi) starts with the mention of Bezalel, the architect of the tabernacle:

These are the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Pact, which were drawn up at Moses' bidding — the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. Now Bezalel, son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, had made all that the Lord had commanded Moses; at his side was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, carver and designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and crimson yarns and in fine linen. (Ex. 38:21-23)

When I first read the text, I thought it was interesting that Bezalel is identified by his grandfather. So who is Hur? Turns our he has an interesting history.

Here are two mentions of him from the Bible:

1. Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Pick some men for us, and go out and do battle with Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill, with the rod of God in my hand." Joshua did as Moses told him and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Then, whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; but whenever he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur, one on each side, supported his hands; thus his hands remained steady until the sun set. And Joshua overwhelmed the people of Amalek with the sword. (Ex. 17:10)
2. The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and wait there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teachings and commandments which I have inscribed to instruct them." So Moses and his attendant Joshua arose, and Moses ascended the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us until we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you; let anyone who has a legal matter approach them." (Ex. 24:12-14)

So what do we know about Hur? We know he was pretty important. In the war against Amalek he was literally Moses's "right hand man." We also know that when Moses went up to see God, he left Hur alone to hold down the fort.

But what happened to Hur? Well the rabbis have an interesting story. It appears that when the Israelites wanted to make the golden calf, they went to Hur first and asked him to make it. When he refused they killed him:

And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it (Ex. 32:5) What did he actually see? — R. Benjamin b. Japhet says,reporting R. Eleazar: He saw Hur lying slain before him and said [to himself]: If I do not obey them, they will now do unto me as they did unto Hur…and they will never find forgiveness. Better let them worship the golden calf, for which offence they may yet find forgiveness through repentance. (Talmud, Sanhedrin 7a)

Imagine a little Bezalel--according to the rabbis he was 13 when he make the tabernacle--growing up knowing that his grandfather was not only a powerful man but was an artist himself. Furthermore, it was his unwillingness to use his artistic gift that ultimately lead to his death.

Two generations later (but actually only a short time later) Bezalel, who was also given the gift of art would do what his grandfather was never able to do: he would build for good, and create the masterpiece we know as the tabernacle.

We all live in the shadow of our ancestors. Whether we want to or not we cannot escape their struggles. For some of us we will never live us to them. For other we will forever be in dialogue with them. And for the lucky few (like Bezalel) we will complete the work they should have completed using the gifts they were given.