Vayakhel – Page 7 – Peninim on the Torah

כל איש ואשה אשר נדב לבם אתם להביא לכל המלאכה... הביאו בני ישראל נדבה לד'

“Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem.” (35:29)

The pasuk begins by pointing out how every man and every woman brought his/her offerings to the Mishkan. Why, then, does it seemingly reiterate its previous statement by saying, “Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem”? Horav Mordechai Rogov, z.l., explains that those who give of themselves and their possessions possess a pure and benevolent spirit of generosity which was imbued in them by those who educated them. Chesed, kindness, is taught. It is infused in a person by his rebbeim, teachers, who, along with the scholarly knowledge which they impart, also inculcate their students with ethics and responsibility to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Vayakhel

“Every wise-hearted person among you shall come and make everything that Hashem commanded.” (35:10)

Why did Moshe Rabbeinu not simply say, “All of the wise- hearted among you shall come and construct the Mishkan? Would it not have been more correct to identify what they were doing, building the Mishkan, rather than just telling them to follow Hashem’s command? Horav Moshe Feinstein, z.l., makes a profound inference. Man only builds the structure, Hashem actually makes it into a Mishkan/Mikdash when His Shechinah reposes there. All we can do is follow Hashem’s dictate, adhering to His command and instruction. Only then can we aspire for the Shechinah to rest there, thereby transforming this edifice into…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5761, Vayakhel

“See Hashem has proclaimed by name, Betzalel son of Uri, son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehudah.” (35:30)

Every time the Torah details Betzalel’s pedigree, it goes back two generations to his grandfather, Chur. Apparently, Chur played an important role in molding Betzalel’s perspective on life. Indeed, it was probably because he had descended from Chur that Betzalel was selected to build the Mishkan. Only a very special individual, one whose devotion to Hashem had been exemplary, would undertake this unprecedented endeavor. Chur was the individual who challenged the erev rav, mixed multitude, when they rebelled against Hashem to build the Golden Calf. He was killed for his devotion. His spirit of mesiras nefesh, self-sacrifice, remained alive in…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Vayakhel

“Every wise-hearted person among you shall come and make everything that Hashem commanded.” (35:10)

Why did Moshe Rabbeinu not simply say, “All of the wise- hearted among you shall come and construct the Mishkan? Would it not have been more correct to identify what they were doing, building the Mishkan, rather than just telling them to follow Hashem’s command? Horav Moshe Feinstein, z.l., makes a profound inference. Man only builds the structure, Hashem actually makes it into a Mishkan/Mikdash when His Shechinah reposes there. All we can do is follow Hashem’s dictate, adhering to His command and instruction. Only then can we aspire for the Shechinah to rest there, thereby transforming this edifice into…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5760

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5760, Vayakhel

“See Hashem has proclaimed by name, Betzalel son of Uri, son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehudah.” (35:30)

Every time the Torah details Betzalel’s pedigree, it goes back two generations to his grandfather, Chur. Apparently, Chur played an important role in molding Betzalel’s perspective on life. Indeed, it was probably because he had descended from Chur that Betzalel was selected to build the Mishkan. Only a very special individual, one whose devotion to Hashem had been exemplary, would undertake this unprecedented endeavor. Chur was the individual who challenged the erev rav, mixed multitude, when they rebelled against Hashem to build the Golden Calf. He was killed for his devotion. His spirit of mesiras nefesh, self-sacrifice, remained alive in…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayakhel

Take from yourselves a portion for Hashem, everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it, as a gift for Hashem. (35:5)

In recognizing the contributions towards the Mishkan of the dor ha’midbar, generation of the wilderness, the Torah uses the phrase nedivus ha’lev, donations of the heart. What is a donation of the heart? Ibn Ezra notes two variances in the Torah’s idiom regarding Klal Yisrael’s contribution. Hashem commanded them, “Kechu me’itchem,” “Take from yourselves.” To “take” is the opposite of to “give.” Placing the prefix “mem” (meitchem) before a word changes its meaning. Thus, “Kechu me’itchem” has the same meaning as “Tenu,” give. Why did the Torah express this idea in such an awkward manner? Second, what is the meaning…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Vayakhel

The Nesiim brought the shoham stones and the stones for the settings for the Eiphod and the choshen. (35:27)

The Nesiim were the princes, or leaders, of every tribe. Rashi cites the Midrash which notes the word Nesiim is spelled in Hebrew without the two “yudin” that it would normally have. This defective spelling was deliberate – as a punishment for their not bringing their contributions together with everyone else. They had waited to see what would be lacking, so that they would fill the deficit. To their surprise and chagrin, the national response was so overwhelming that there was almost nothing left for them to give. Chazal note a taint of laziness on their part which caused their…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayakhel

These are the things that Hashem has commanded, to do them…on six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy. (35:1,2)

The Torah introduces the laws regarding the building of the Mishkan with an admonition to observe Shabbos. Rashi notes the juxtaposition of these laws and infers that building the Mishkan does not override the observance of Shabbos. Abarbanel explains that since building the Mishkan is a symbol of the strong bond that exists between Hashem and Klal Yisrael, one might think that it should take precedence over everything, even Shabbos. After all, action is a positive expression of our love and commitment to Hashem. Should it not have preeminence over the observance of Shabbos, which represents a cessation from action? …

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayakhel

Moshe assembled the entire assembly of the Bnei Yisrael. (35:1)

Moshe Rabbeinu gathered together the entire nation for the specific purpose of instructing them regarding the building of the Mishkan. Horav Baruch Sorotzkin, zl, observes that the power of certain mitzvos is catalyzed by their acceptance and performance by the tzibbur, entire community. There are other mitzvos that attain validity even if only one person observes and fulfills them. The mitzvah of building the Mishkan, the place where the Shechinah will repose, the source of Klal Yisrael’s kedushah and taharah, holiness and purity, is one that must involve the entire Jewish People. No individual, regardless of his ability to…

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayakhel

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work…the Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

If we read the text carefully, we note a redundancy. If “every man and woman” contributed towards the Mishkan, why is it necessary to reiterate that “Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering”? Are not the “men and women” included in “Bnei Yisrael”? Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, observes that many individuals who support Torah institutions and sustain those in need have themselves been educated in Torah institutions which stress the value of tzedakah. People contribute to those organizations with which they identify. When they see the importance of an institution or an endeavor, they support it. One who has been…

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כל איש ואשה אשר נדב לבם אתם להביא לכל המלאכה... הביאו בני ישראל נדבה לד'

“Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work… Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem.” (35:29)

“Every wise-hearted person among you shall come and make everything that Hashem commanded.” (35:10)

“See Hashem has proclaimed by name, Betzalel son of Uri, son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehudah.” (35:30)

“Every wise-hearted person among you shall come and make everything that Hashem commanded.” (35:10)

“See Hashem has proclaimed by name, Betzalel son of Uri, son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehudah.” (35:30)

Take from yourselves a portion for Hashem, everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it, as a gift for Hashem. (35:5)

The Nesiim brought the shoham stones and the stones for the settings for the Eiphod and the choshen. (35:27)

These are the things that Hashem has commanded, to do them…on six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy. (35:1,2)

Moshe assembled the entire assembly of the Bnei Yisrael. (35:1)

Every man and woman whose heart motivated them to bring for any of the work…the Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to Hashem. (35:29)

YEARS

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