Remembering Eli Moshe HY"D

On his first yahtzeit, let us remember what he stood for, golden hands and a golden heart

Today marks the first Yahrtzeit of my brother-in-law, Eli Moshe Zimbalist.
At 5 AM on a Shabbat morning, as they returned from a mission in Rafah, the armored vehicle carrying him and seven other comrades was struck and exploded.

Even though it’s difficult to fathom a Yahrtzeit for someone who would have been just 22 years old, Eli Moshe accomplished so much in the short time he had. And in the year since his death, his legacy has only continued to grow.

Chessed at Work

Shtark Tank focuses on the intersection of Torah values and work, and it's not hard to see how this connects with Eli Moshe.

From a very young age, he was a talented builder. He embodied a trait we spoke about many times—that business and chessed don't contradict one another. He was able to provide valuable services and earn a respectable income as well (truthfully, he did a lot better than his brother-in-law with a master’s degree). He worked hard, did excellent work, and treated everyone around him with warmth and respect.

Home at Shul

Eli Moshe loved shul, and he applied his building talents there as well. He built dozens of bookcases, shtenders, and other pieces of furniture for both Nofei HaShemesh and Yeshivat Shalvim.

Chazal teach us that the Shechina rested in the Mishkan as a result of the toil of those who built it.¹ I have no doubt that the Torah and tefilah in Nofei HaShemesh and Shalvim are enhanced by the Shechina that Eli Moshe helped bring into those spaces.

Magical Mikdash?

After the shiva, I was reflecting on these midrashim and found myself bothered by a question.

The Rambam writes that the third Beit HaMikdash will be built by the Jewish people, just like the first two. But Rashi in Sukka writes that the Temple will descend from Heaven, already built. The Rambam’s opinion fits nicely with the midrashim—we build, and as a result, we merit the Shechina.

But how do we understand Rashi’s view?
If we don’t toil over its construction, what will make it a Makom HaMikdash?

Shul Central Station

I think the answer lies in a Maharsha in Megillah.² He writes that all of the shuls from across the world will eventually be transported and become part of the third Beit HaMikdash.

According to this, the toil of Jews across the world and across generations—those who built local shuls with love and sacrifice—will be what draws the Shechina. The final Mikdash will be a composite of thousands of shuls, each one built with blood, sweat, and tears.

Let’s Keep Building

Eli Moshe built a great deal in his lifetime—with his hands, his heart, and his soul.
And we know that God counts the tears shed after the loss of a great person.

May the work of his hands and the tears of those who mourn him be woven into the walls of the final Beit HaMikdash.
And may the Shechina rest among us because of the life he lived and the legacy he left behind.

1. מכילתא דרבי שמעון בר יוחאי, (שמות פרק כ פסוק ט) כתוב:

ר' אלעזר בן עזריה אומר גדולה מלאכה שלא שרת שכינה בישראל עד שעשו מלאכה שנ' ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם.

ובמשנת רבי אליעזר (פרשה כ עמוד 366) נאמר:

חביבה היא המלאכה, שהקב"ה העסיק את אבותינו במדבר ששה חדשים במלאכת המשכן, והיתה יכולת לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא לבראת את המשכן בהרף עין, אלא לא השרת שכינתו בישראל אלא מתוך המלאכה, שנא' ויכל משה את המלאכה. הא למדת שהמלאכה חביבה.

2. מהרש”א מסכת מגילה דף כט עמוד א

עתידים בתי כנסיות כו' שיקבעו בא"י כו'. ועד"ז יש לכוין במזמור שמחתי באומרים לי בית ה' נלך גו' זה המזמור בגלות נאמר, ששמחתי באומרים לי בית ה' נלך שהוא בית הכנסת כאילו עומדות היו רגלינו בבה"מ בירושלים ולכך שמחתי בהליכתי לבית הכנסת כאילו באתי למקדש לפי שירושלים הבנויה כעיר שחוברה גו' ר"ל ע"פ שאמרו במדרש לעתיד יהיה בהמ"ק גדול כירושלים שבעוה"ז וירושלים יהיה גדול ככל א"י וע"ז אמר מה טעם יהיה בית המקדש לעתיד כ"כ גדול לפי שבירושלים הבנויה לעתיד יהיה חוברה לה למקדש יחדיו כל מקומות של בתי הכנסיות שהיו בעוה"ז ונמצא עתה בגלות שאני עומד בבית הכנסת הרי הוא מקום המקדש גופי' דלעתיד.