Moses' Guide to Entrepreneurship: Thoughts on Parashat Vayakhel - Rabba Noga Brenner-Samia

The events of October 7 and the Iron Swords War have sparked a wave of social and communal initiatives aimed at supporting a wide range of populations- evacuees, struggling businesses, the wounded, soldiers, reservists, and, of course, bereaved families and the families of hostages.

In this spirit, I present to you: "The Young Entrepreneur’s Guide, According to Moses" - What can we learn about entrepreneurship (business or social) from Moses, the ultimate biblical entrepreneur?

1. Every entrepreneur will tell you that success starts with a good idea and an unwavering passion for it. In this week’s parasha, Vayakhel, the idea is the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle)- a place for divine service, as it is written:

And the passionate leader? Moses, of course. Whether you call it a divine command, divine inspiration, or simply a lightbulb moment, Moses had a vision. He identified a need, saw an opportunity, and took initiative to address it for both his people and God. He decided to build the Mishkan. So, do you have an idea you're passionate about? On to the next step!

2. Okay, you have an idea. Now what? Moses starts like any early-stage entrepreneur:

In other words- gather the team, craft your messaging, post on social media, launch a campaign, and make a public announcement. The Mishkan is happening! Declaring your commitment- to yourself and to your community- is the first step toward making it a reality.

3. Unlike today’s startup founders who begin fundraising from the "Three Fs" (Family, Friends, and Fools), Moses launches the first and most successful crowdfunding campaign in Jewish history:

Moses’s campaign is so successful that at one point, he has to ask the people to stop donating:

How did Moses inspire such overwhelming generosity? Perhaps, like every successful entrepreneur, he understood the power of collective action—the immense potential of meaningful, community-driven work that generates energy and attracts masses. Whether you’re launching a social initiative or a community project, never underestimate the power of a founding group and the need to engage your audience, especially when the project serves the public.

4. The next critical step is selecting a skilled and visionary leadership team. Bezalel and Oholiab, described in the parasha as

were carefully chosen by Moses to lead the Mishkan project. They were selected both for their divine inspiration (Bezalel- "in the shadow of God," and Oholiab- "in the tent of the father") and for their exceptional skills:

When recruiting employees and reviewing resumes, look for people with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge- but also those who, like Bezalel and Oholiab, have versatility, the ability to execute tasks, and independent critical thinking.

5. Even with a stellar team, there will be tasks you, the entrepreneur, will have to handle alone. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself working through weekends to finalize a donor document or pulling all-nighters before a website launch. Even Moses, surrounded by priests and Levites, ultimately builds the Mishkan himself:

Placed, set up, inserted, erected... In short, Moses had a sleepless night. Sometimes, there's no way around it. (Tip: Get your partner on board—without a supportive family unit, this journey will be even harder.)

6. Parashat Vayakhel, and next week’s parasha, Pekudei, meticulously describe every stage of constructing the Mishkan- including the exact materials, dimensions, and details of the altar, priestly garments, and sacred vessels. The Mishkan case study teaches us a crucial lesson: paying attention to the smallest details is essential for success- especially in construction projects, and even more so in unprecedented public undertakings with religious, cultural, and historical significance. As the saying goes, "God is in the details".

7. Success requires both financial investment and hard work. Some, like Bezalel and Oholiab, contribute their time, skills, and effort ("wise-hearted work"), while others, like the Israelites, contribute their wealth ("generous-hearted giving"). A great entrepreneur values and acknowledges both the donors and the laborers- both the board members and the operational team. Their partnership and mutual respect are vital to any business or social venture:

8. No initiative can start without a strategic plan. It’s best to aim high while remaining realistic- dream big but remember that life is stronger than any business plan. No matter how much you prepare, there will always be unexpected challenges and gaps between planning and execution. Even Moses planned to build the Mishkan’s sacred vessels first and the structure afterward, but in reality, the process happened in reverse. Lesson learned? Sometimes the organization is established before the work begins, and sometimes you start operations and only later formalize the entity (whether a nonprofit, social business, or company). Either way, expect changes. Life is dynamic—don’t fear adjustments, setbacks, mistakes, or even failures. Even Moses had to recalculate his route multiple times.

9. Financial and material contributions can lead to a divine Mishkan- but they can also result in a Golden Calf. Every project carries both opportunities and risks. It may succeed and become a holy space-

– but it may also fail. Regardless, in 40 years- whether you reach the "Promised Land" or merely gaze at it from Mount Nebo- remember that the journey is as important as the destination. Don’t fear failure - every experience is an opportunity for growth.

To all entrepreneurs: any initiative that contributes to healing and repairing our society- currently in such trauma and distress- is blessed and akin to building a Mishkan.

May all those engaged in this work be strengthened, and may all your efforts succeed.

Chazak u’Baruch!

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