(2014/5774)

As the work on the Mishkan commences in this week’s Parashah, we are introduced to types of contributors to the first Jewish capital campaign. The “Nedivei Lev,” “men of willing heart,” bring various materials to the construction of the Mishkan, generously donating their own possessions to help the building effort. The second group does not donate anything tangible but provides its services, committing its artisanship, wisdom, and skills to the Mishkan project. While the Torah explains that these people possessed God-given talents and wisdom, it does not describe them as “Chachamim,” “wise,” but as “Chachmei Leiv,” literally, “wise-hearted” (Shemot 35:10). What, Netziv and others wonder, is the connection between wisdom and the heart? What is the difference between a Chacham and a Chacham Leiv, and why is the latter so critical for the building of the Mishkan?

Netziv offers insight into the way we look at intelligence. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck is famous for her research on two different perceptions, or what she calls ‘mindsets,’ of intelligence. Some possess a “fixed” mindset, working with the assumption that our intelligence, attitudes, and abilities are fixed. People are either smart or not, athletic or not- it’s not up to them. Those with this mindset are less likely to exert effort in areas they are “not good at” and are more likely to interpret mistakes or failure as an indication of their general aptitude in that area. On the other hand, people with a “growth” mindset believe learning and effort can change their intelligence. Abilities and attitudes are able to change and are open to constant growth; mistakes are opportunities for learning. According to Dweck’s research, lifelong success is more reliably predicted by assessing an individual’s mindset and encouraging a growth-oriented one than by evaluating the individual’s performance on a test like the SAT. Parents and schools, she claims, must work to foster this growth mindset together with the content and skills they are teaching.

One could hardly imagine there were many craftsmen, experienced designers, or artisans within Bnei Yisrael as they left Egypt. After all, Ramban explains, the Jews were engaged in back-breaking manual labor and were not engaged in artistic work. Where, then, did these skilled workers come from? Netziv explains that while God may have granted these individuals Chochmah, the raw talent and ability to successfully complete the tasks assigned to them, they needed something different to participate in the Mishkan project. ‘Chachmei Leiv’ are those who may have no experience in a particular area but nonetheless possess the confidence to engage in it anyway. They trust and believe that through effort and learning they can succeed at tasks previously untried. Even though they may not be Chachamim yet, the Chachmei Leiv have demonstrated a growth-oriented mindset that has enabled them to sacrifice their comfort and self-confidence, stretching to look beyond their original capabilities and consider their potential.

Through their attitude to intelligence and artistic abilities, these Chachmei Leiv provide a model for the way to approach Hashem even after the physical Mishkan was complete. Successful worship of Hashem does not simply demand Chochmah, recognition of where we are and what we are currently capable of, but Chachmat Leiv, the confidence to see beyond the moment and imagine where we could be.