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Perashat Vayakhel-Pikudei

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Perashat Vayakhel-Pikudei

Friday, March 13, 2015 Author: Rabbi Daniel Greenwald

In this week's perasha the Torah recounts the response of B'nei Yisrael to Moshe's appeal for donations towards the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle.
 וַיָּבֹאוּ כָּל-אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר-נְשָׂאוֹ לִבּוֹ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר נָדְבָה רוּחוֹ אֹתוֹ, הֵבִיאוּ אֶת-תְּרוּמַת ה' לִמְלֶאכֶת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּלְכָל-עֲבֹדָתוֹ, וּלְבִגְדֵי, הַקֹּדֶשׁ. - "And each person whose heart raised him up, and whose spirit caused him to donate, brought a donation of G-d for the work of the Tent of Meeting and for all its service, and for the holy garments." (Shemot 35:21).

The commentators elaborate upon the double-expression, "whose heart raised him up, and whose spirit caused him to donate," noting that this is an obvious reference to two types of donors.  If so, what was the difference between them?

Rabbi A. Gordimer suggests that the text refers to two distinct motivations in our approach to the service of Boreh Olam. There are those who are driven to serve G-d by an outward, open love for Him.  This is considered the most lofty manner of Divine service. Others serve G-d out of intuition or intellectual understanding, acknowledging that G-d controls the entire universe, and that since His Word is true, they are obligated to follow Him and carry out His commandments. This is a lower level of Divine service. Both of these groups are represented in the Mishkan campaign, and are reflected by the two phrases used in the Torah denoting different types of donors.

Rabbi Gordimer further suggests that this idea may be the basis for the Mishkan's role as a rectification for the Het Ha-Egel, the Sin of the Golden Calf (see Rashi on 35:1.) Just as B'nei Yisrael stood at Har Sinaiכאיש אחד בלב אחד - "as one person, with one heart", unified in the service of Boreh Olam, the Mishkan brought together those who worshiped G-d using these two differing approaches and united them as one under His command. As such, B'nei Yisrael were able to regain their stature of purity and innocence prior to this grievous sin and demonstrate their unified commitment to Boreh Olam and adherence to His word. 

May we all be blessed to work together and unite in our service of G-d.

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