Who do we trust? Why do we trust them? And what happens when that trust is broken? In Jewish tradition, the concept of trust, of being a ne'eman, a trustworthy person, is incredibly important. And it's beautifully illustrated in the story of the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle.
We find the verse in Exodus 38:21: “These are the reckonings of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were reckoned at the directive of Moses: the service of the Levites was by means of Itamar, son of Aaron the priest.” Seems simple enough. But the rabbis of old, they saw so much more in these words.
The Midrash, specifically Shemot Rabbah, dives deep into this verse. Rabbi Tanhuma bar Abba starts with a quote from Proverbs 28:20: “A man of trust will abound with blessings.” for a second. The idea is that when someone is truly trustworthy, God brings blessings through them. Conversely, the verse continues, "But one who hastens to become rich will not be absolved."
The Midrash then connects this idea of trust directly to Moses. He was the trusted one. As Numbers 12:7 tells us, “Not so is My servant Moses; in My entire house he is trusted.” Because he was so trustworthy, everything he oversaw was blessed. He was the ultimate ish emunah, a man of faith and trustworthiness.
But what about those who aren’t trustworthy? The Midrash contrasts Moses with Korah. Remember Korah? He was a Levite who challenged Moses’s leadership, who sought power and especially the high priesthood for himself. And what happened to him? Well, the earth opened up and swallowed him whole (Numbers 16:32). A pretty stark consequence for a breach of trust, wouldn't you say?
Now, let's get back to the Tabernacle. Moses was in charge of all the finances and materials. But here's the interesting part: Our Rabbis taught that one does not appoint an authority over the public in monetary matters that is fewer than two people, as we see in Mishna Shekalim 5:2. So, how could Moses, even with his unimpeachable character, be the sole executor?
The answer, according to the Midrash, is that even though Moses was ultimately responsible, he didn’t do it alone. He consulted with others. He calculated with them. The verse says, "These are the reckonings of the Tabernacle...as they were reckoned at the directive of Moses – by means of Moses, 'by means of Itamar.'" He involved Itamar, Aaron's son, to ensure transparency and accountability. It wasn’t just Moses doing the math in a back room. It was a collective effort, guided by his leadership but grounded in shared responsibility.
The beauty of this interpretation, I think, is that it shows us that even the most trustworthy person needs a system of checks and balances. Trust isn't just about individual character; it's about creating structures that foster accountability and prevent corruption. Moses was trustworthy, yes, but he also understood the importance of involving others and ensuring that everything was done openly and honestly.
So, what does this all mean for us today? Perhaps it's a reminder that trust is a precious commodity. It needs to be earned, nurtured, and protected. And maybe, just maybe, it's a call to be a little more like Moses – not just trustworthy ourselves, but also committed to building systems of trust in our own communities and lives.