5785 Parshat Pekudei Dvar Torah by Ms. Tamar Teller

וַיַּרְא משֶׁה אֶת כָּל הַמְּלָאכָה וְהִנֵּה עָשׂוּ אֹתָהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה׳ כֵּן עָשׂוּ וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם משֶׁה

״And when Moshe saw that they had performed all the tasks—as Hashem had commanded, so they had done—Moshe blessed them.”

(שמות ל׳׳ט:מ׳׳ג)

In this week’s parasha, after the Jewish people did everything they were supposed to do regarding the Mishkan, Moshe Rabbeinu gave them a "Thank you."

Rabbi Frand quotes the Reishe Rav, who questions why Bnei Yisrael were deserving of any compliments. After all, what they did was not a voluntary action on their part: they merely did that which G-d commanded them to do. They really had no choice in the matter, with the specifications of the construction of the Mishkan even dictated down to the last detail.

Rabbi Frand explains a fundamental principle in the concept of "Hakarat HaTov" [recognition of a debt of gratitude]. Saying "Thank you" has nothing to do with what one gave. It has to do with what one received. A person has an obligation to say thank you when he receives something. The fact that the person who gave had no choice in the matter and was merely doing his duty is irrelevant. This idea is illustrated by Rabbi Shalom Rosner, who offers an additional insight into Moshe’s blessing. Even though the work of the Mishkan Bnei Yisrael completed was what Hashem had commandeered, Moshe celebrated their achievement, congratulating them to encourage and celebrate them. 

Human beings need positive reinforcement. It is important to celebrate achievements, big and small. People need to be built up and that is what Moshe did by blessing Bnei Yisrael. He did not just take for granted that they followed each and every commandment and built the Mishkan as directed. Rather, he offered positive reinforcement and praise. In Mesilat Yesharim, chapter 11, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto discusses how gratitude is a key trait of righteousness. Even if someone must act in a certain way (such as fulfilling a mitzvah), thanking them acknowledges their effort and reinforces positive human interactions.

Showing gratitude and appreciation is one of the simplest yet most impactful things that people can do for each other. Pesach is soon approaching, and the theme of thankfulness is also evident in the Haggadah. A message of the song we sing at the seder, "Dayenu," suggests that gratitude is not just about extraordinary favors—it's about recognizing each blessing as meaningful, even if it was part of the expected course. The "Dayenu" mindset teaches that a person should develop a sense of contentment and gratitude, rather than entitlement. Every single thing someone receives merits appreciation and thanks.