When The Fallen Rise Higher

Have you ever stumbled and wondered if you could truly recover? In Parshat Vayakhel, the Torah reveals a surprising truth—sometimes, those who fall can rise even higher than those who never stumble at all.

The Torah describes the men and women who donated gold and materials for the construction of the Mishkan. Yet the wording of the pasuk is unusual:

Vayavo’u ha’anashim al hanashim—"The men ascended to the women."

Why not simply say that the men and women came together to donate? The phrase implies that the men rose above the women. But how could that be?

 

The Strength of Transformation

I heard a beautiful explanation from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlit”a, based on the words of the Chiddushei HaRim, who explains that the men ascended because they had surpassed the women in a specific way.

The women, righteous and unwavering, refused to participate in the sin of the Eigel HaZahav—the Golden Calf. But the men did not. They gave their gold for idolatry, contributing to one of the greatest failures in Jewish history.

Now, however, they were returning—this time with a different purpose. The same hands that had once sinned were now offering gold to build holiness. Through their teshuvah—their sincere repentance—they transformed their shame into sanctity. In this act, they rose above the women.

In the place where a ba’al teshuvah stands, even a tzaddik cannot stand.

 

A Story of Resilience

Rav Shimshon Pincus zt”l was not only a brilliant talmid chacham but also a master of avodat Hashem, who dedicated his life to inspiring others. Born in America, he later moved to Eretz Yisrael and became the Rav of Ofakim, where he uplifted an entire community with his warmth, wisdom, and unshakable faith. He had a unique ability to connect with people, seeing the spark of greatness even in those who felt distant from Hashem.

One of his most powerful lessons on resilience came from an unforgettable moment during the Yom Kippur War.

Rav Pincus was in the emergency room at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital with one of his children when a young wounded soldier was rushed in. The soldier had been shot in the leg, and the doctors worked swiftly to remove the bullet. After a painful procedure, they informed him that he was stable and could return home to recover.

 

But the soldier shook his head.

"Home? You think I’m going home? I was shot, I lost a battle, but the war is still going on. My fellow soldiers need me. I have to go back and fight!"

With fierce determination, the soldier rose from his hospital bed, his body still aching, but his spirit unbroken. He prepared to return to the front lines, refusing to let his injury define him.

This moment left a deep impression on Rav Pincus. Years later, he shared this story with a struggling student.

The boy had poured his heart into spiritual growth during Elul, yet despite his efforts, he kept stumbling. By the time Rosh Hashanah arrived, he felt like a failure. Overwhelmed with guilt, he sat in the hallway, unable to bring himself to return to tefillah.

Rav Pincus noticed him, placed an arm around his shoulders, and gently said:

"Yes, you fell. But the war isn’t over. Losing a battle doesn’t mean losing the war. We need you. Come back and fight with us."

Moved by these words, the boy wiped his tears, gathered his strength, and together, they returned to the beit midrash.

 

The Battle of the Soul

Rav Pincus often emphasized that in life, we all take spiritual hits. We all have moments where we feel unworthy, where we wonder if we can ever recover. But he taught that the true test of greatness is not about never falling—it’s about having the courage to get back up.

The men of Parshat Vayakhel teach us this same lesson. They fell in the sin of the Eigel HaZahav, yet they found the strength to return, transforming their past mistakes into something holy.

So when you stumble—and you will—remember the lesson of Rav Pincus and the soldier who refused to surrender:

The war is not over. Rise, return, and fight once more.

Your greatest victory is waiting—just beyond your decision to rise again.

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