Parshas Vayakhel 5765

Moshe gathered the people to speak to them about the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. He also reiterated the laws of Shabbos to them and explained that although the Mishkan was important, Shabbos was even more important and could not be desecrated even for the purpose of constructing the Mishkan.

He instructed the Jewish people about all the different materials and skills that were needed for building the Mishkan. Although they were not required to give anything, the response was overwhelming. Men and women quickly brought so much gold and expensive jewelry that there was a surplus of what was needed and Moshe had to stop them from bringing more. Likewise, the sincerely motivated people offered their services to assist in the construction of the Mishkan and its vessels.

The enthusiasm was necessary to atone for the misguided enthusiasm the people had shown when they brought their jewelry for the golden calf. It is especially noteworthy that the women showed such enthusiasm. The men who had showed similar enthusiasm for the golden calf did not necessarily show an endearment to G-d. Perhaps they were merely generous to any cause. The women, however, who had not contributed to the calf, showed an enthusiasm only to fulfill G-d's will.

Along these lines, the Torah mentions that after the people had brought their gifts, the Nesi'im, the princes of each tribe, donated all the necessary jewels for the High Priest's garments. The Midrash points out that the word Nesi'im is spelled "defectively" (without the letter yud). The Midrash explains that at the commencement of the collection, the princes offered to donate any remaining items needed after the people finished giving their own gifts. However, they underestimated the generosity of the nation. The response had been so overwhelming that the only things needed were the jewels.

Although the princes may have had good intentions, they seemed to show a lesser degree of enthusiasm than the rest of the people. Since this enthusiasm was a necessary part of the nation's atonement, it showed a deficiency in the princes' attitude. Their title is written with a defective spelling, representing this defect in their response.

Betzalel, who was a grandson of Chur, oversaw the construction of the Mishkan. Chur, the Talmud explains, had stood up against the nation when they had first requested the golden calf. He had sharply rebuked them for failing to show the proper faith in Moshe and G-d. At the height of the rebellion the people murdered him. It was therefore quite appropriate that the construction of the Mishkan, which would atone for the golden calf, should take place under Chur's grandson's direction.

And the princes brought the precious setting stones for the Ephod and the breastplate. (Ex. 35:27)

The Midrash notes that the word "princes" is spelled "defectively", since the princes procrastinated in their involvement with the construction of the Mishkan. The Chafetz Chaim never procrastinated a moment when it came to a mitzvah. When he wanted his work Geder Olam translated into Yiddish, he asked his son-in-law, Reb Hersh, to find a translator. This was in the afternoon. That evening the Chafetz Chaim asked Reb Hersh if he had found someone yet. The following morning, when he saw his request had not been fulfilled, the Chafetz Chaim began translating it himself.

Did You Know...

There is a question whether a person may open the refrigerator door on Shabbos while the motor stops. Some authorities prohibit it because that the influx of warm air causes the thermostat to kick in, thus turning on the motor. Others permit it, since it is not a direct result of opening the door, but rather opening the door triggers a chain of events that leads to the motor turning on. This seems to be the prevailing opinion. The same applies to drinking from a water fountain on Shabbos. However, one should not leave the door open, or the water on, for an extended period of time, since that is a more direct involvement.