As we conclude Sefer Shemot this week with Parshat Pekudei, we find Moshe pausing to reflect on the completion of the Mishkan. “Moshe saw that they had indeed done all the work exactly as God had commanded,” states the Torah, “and Moshe blessed them” (Shemot 39:43). After all the challenges and triumphs — the Exodus from Egypt, the revelation at Har Sinai, the sin of the Golden Calf — Moshe does not rush forward. Instead, he takes a moment to recognize the collective efforts of Bnei Yisrael and offers them a blessing.

This moment exemplifies the concept of hakarat hatov, recognizing the good. The Vilna Gaon, the revered 18th-century sage, emphasized the importance of gratitude, stating that hakarat hatov is “a moral virtue of the first order.” Gratitude is not just a polite social convention, but a foundational Jewish value. It demands that we take stock of the goodness in our lives and acknowledge the people — and the Divine — who contribute to it.

Rashi, commenting on Moshe’s blessing, explains that he invoked a prayer for Hashem’s presence to rest upon their work (Rashi on Shemot 39:43). Rav Soloveitchik’s perspective on creation and sanctification builds on this. In The Emergence of Ethical Man, the Rav discusses how human beings are called upon to build and rebuild the world, partnering with God in transforming the physical into the spiritual. The Mishkan’s completion represents this ideal: human labor, combined with faith and devotion, creates a dwelling place for the Divine.

Expanding on this theme, Nechama Leibowitz notes that the act of blessing is not merely about acknowledging the past, but about channeling divine favor for the future. Gratitude, as such, is not static — it is a dynamic force that shapes our perspectives and inspires us to further action.

The Ramban, in his commentary on the conclusion of Sefer Shemot, also looks both backward and forward. He highlights that the Mishkan represents the culmination of the Exodus, but also a transition to the future as a holy nation. The goal of leaving Egypt was not merely freedom from oppression, but arriving at a state in which God’s presence dwells among the people. The recognition of this achievement is fundamental to the Jewish perspective on history: we do not just celebrate moments of liberation, but also the sanctity that emerges from them. This reinforces the idea that hakarat hatov is not just about giving thanks, but about realizing our role in a Divine process.

In his writings on gratitude, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks points out that Judaism begins each day with Modeh Ani, the simple but profound acknowledgment of being alive. He writes, “Giving thanks is the best way to live with joy. The more we celebrate the good, the more good we discover that is worthy of celebration.” Moshe’s act of blessing Bnei Yisrael serves as a model for us to actively recognize and appreciate our blessings, fostering a mindset of joy and fulfillment that we continually strengthen and take with us.

Rabbanit Sharon Rimon adds that gratitude in the Torah is not just an individual trait but a communal value. She notes that the Mishkan was built through the contributions of the entire nation — and that Moshe’s blessing reflects not only personal appreciation, but a national recognition of shared effort and Divine partnership. This teaches us that gratitude extends beyond our personal experiences to recognizing the collective achievements of our communities and the people around us.

In The Particulars of Rapture, Dr. Avivah Zornberg explores a different angle, looking at how the completion of the Mishkan represents a shift from chaos to Divine order. She suggests that gratitude is a means of making sense of our experiences, transforming uncertainty into meaning. By acknowledging the blessings in our lives, we engage in an act of creation, shaping a more ordered and spiritually enriched reality.

Tying this all together is the reality that in our own lives, and in human nature, it is easy to focus on what is missing, what remains unfinished. But as we see in this parsha, true leadership — and true spiritual awareness — requires us to pause and reflect on our journey and our achievements, to recognize how far we’ve come and what we’ve created. Whether it is in our personal growth, our relationships, or our communal efforts, hakarat hatov helps us recognize the goodness around us, and deepens our connection with God and each other.

As we transition from Shemot to Vayikra, from the grand narratives of redemption to the intricate details of holiness, we can take a lesson from Moshe Rabbeinu. We can cultivate gratitude, bless the work of our hands, and move forward with renewed appreciation for the many blessings great and small, in our lives and all around us.

Shabbat Shalom ~ Besorot Tovot ~ Am Yisrael Chai