Mishkan

Exodus 25:1-27:19

TERUMA / Heave Offering

Mishkan/Tabernacle

Hashem told Moshe, "I want the Hebrew nation to build for me a Mishkan, a tent of sanctification."

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

Hashem told Moshe, "I want the Hebrew nation to build for me a Mishkan, a tent of sanctification."

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

Hashem told Moshe, "I want the Jewish nation to build for me a Mishkan, a tent of sanctification."

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

So why did Hashem ask the Jews to make a Mishkan with its amazing shulchan (table of show bread)

Does any of that sound right?

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

So why did Hashem ask the Jews to make a Mishkan with its amazing menora?

Does any of that sound right?

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

So why did Hashem ask the Jews to make a Mishkan with its incredible Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat?

Does any of that sound right?

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

The answer is that through the kohanim's avoda (worship) Hashem forgave Bnai Yisrael's sins.

Does Hashem need a Mishkan?

The Mishkan helped them realize that Hashem is THE KING. Its parts and objects were so grand a sight that they made a believer realize Hashem's power and might. Learning about the Mishkan is meant to help us, too, to fear (respect) Hashem more and became better believers.

Hashem announced to Moshe, "When I gave the ten instructions at Mnt. Sinai, I showed My Presence to the Jews for only a short while. Now I wish to stay together with Bnai Yisrael all the time.

Hashem commands Bnai Yisrael to build a holy Tent for Him.

"So I want them to build a dwelling pklace where my Shechina (Spirit) can always be present, and from where I will speak to you, Moshe. In the desert where all the Hebrew live in tents, I will be in a tent, the Mishkan, so that I can be near the Hebrew wherever they go. In Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) where they will live in one place all the time, the Hebrew King will build a holy House with stone walls, a Bais Hamikdash (Temple), for My Shechina to rest."

Hashem gave Bnai (Sons) Yisrael the mitzva (instruction) of constructing the Mishkan before they sinned by making a golden calf. Hashem knew that the world's nations would make fun when they heard that the Hebrew had sinned: "God will certainly not stay with a people that made a golden calf"

So Hashem told Moshe before Bnai Yisrael sinned that they would later have to construct the Mishkan where His Shechina (presence) would rest. All the nations would then realize that Hashem was with Bnai Yisrael even after they sinned and did teshuva. (Turn back to God)

1. Hashem announced to the Hebrew people, "You are My sheep, and I am your shepherd. Just as a shepherd sets up his tent close to his sheep in order to watch them, I want to have a dwelling place near you.

Three meshalim, parables, from the Midrash

To what the Mishkan is compared

2. "You, the Hebrew people, are My vineyard; and I, Hashem, am the keeper of the vineyard. One who guards a vineyard usually lives in a hut close to the vineyard form where he can watch it to make sure that no thieves enter. Therefore, build a hut for Me next to the vineyard.

3. "You, the Hebrew people, are also My children; and I, Hashem, am your father. It is a great honor for the children to live in a home near their father and it is also an honor for the father to live close by his children.

Similarly, Hashem "moved along" with Bnai Yisrael in the desert. Like a faithful shepherd He watched them day and night by spreading His clouds around them, and He fed them manna, slav-birds, and spring water.

1. When Bnai Yisrael wandered in the desert, Hashem dwelt in a Mishkan which was similar to a shepherd's tent. A shepherd does not live in a fixed place. He moves along wherever his flocks pasture and sets up a tent next to his sheep in order to guard them and find food for them.

The Midrash is talking about three different times in the history of the Hebrew people. At each of these times Hashem had a different kind of relationship with the Hebrews:

Why is it necessary to have three different meshalim? (Story)

The Second Bais Hamikdash, too, was burned because of the sins of Bnai Yisrael.

2. In Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) King Sholomo built a Bais Hamikdash (Temple) for Hashem, a stone building. Just as the vineyard keeper in his hut watches over the vineyard, so did Hashem through the Bais Hamikdash protect Eretz Yisrael from all enemies. Nevertheless, the Bais Hamikdash was compared only to a "hut" and not to a permanent home since it did not last forever. Hashem foretold that the Bais Hamikdash would continue to exist only as long as Bnai Yisrael kept the Torah faithfully. When they left the mitzvos (instruction) of Hashem, He caused the Bais Hamikdash to be destroyed.

3. When Moshiach comes and Hashem gives us the third Bais Hamikdsh, that Bais Hamikdash will be compated to a "home," because it will last forever. Than all the nations will see that Hashem is our father and we are His children. All the nations will honor Hashem, and they will honor us as His children.

9. Ram's skin dyed10. Tachash skins 11. Shittim-wood 12. Olive Oil (for lighting the menora) 13. Certain spices for anointment oil for incense 14. Two Shoham gems 15. Twelve more gems, including other kinds."

1. Gold
2. Silver
3. Copper
4. Wool dyed blue
5. Wood dyed purple
6. Red woolen thread
7. Linen
8. Goat's hair

"We need the following materials:

Hashem explained to Moshe, "Any Jew who wants to donate matrials that are needed for building the Mishkan and its vessels or for the bigdey kehuna, the kohanim's garments, may give the material he chooses. Don't force anyone to give anything; all contributions are voluntary.

Bnai Ysrael donate materials for the Mishkan

You remember that when the Hebrews left Egypt, the Egyptians gave them gold, silver, and precious vessels. The Bnai Yisrael carried away a tremendous fortune from Egypt. Later, after the Egyptians drowned in the Yam Suf, the Heberws became even richer, because they collected the ornaments and treasures the Egyptians had brought along. the sea washed them up on the shore for Bnai Yisrael to pick up. The tzaddikim (righteous man) had precious gems from still another source: Every day when their portion of manna fell down, Hashem made precious gems rain doesn for them toghether with the manna.

The Midrash explains: Where did Bnai Yisrael get the materials?

When Yaakov came to Egypt, he planted shittim trees because he know through his ruach hakodesh (Holy Spirit) that the Hebrews would need them later to build the Mishkan. Yaakov commanded his children, "When you leave Egypt, take with you the shittim wood that I planted." So the tzaddikim among the Hebrews carried the shittim wood with them to the desert.

The wood which Bnai Yisrael used for the beams of the Mishkan was shittim tree is a very beautiful, tall cedar tree. the Midrash explains that Hashem created this kind of tree especially for the Hebrew people -- so that they should have excellent wood for building the Mishkan.

The Midrash explains: Where did Bnai Yisrael get the materials?

The longest pole in the Mishkan was 30 amos, about 60 feet, long. (Some of our Sages say it was 72 amos long.) That pole came from the tree that Avraham Avinu (Our Father) had planted in Be'er Sheva (well of seven), the tree under which he used to serve his guest.

The tachash was a one-horned animal with a beautiful skin of many colors. However, you will never see the tachash in any zoo nor find it in any encyclopedia, because Hashem made it appear especially for Bnai Yisrael in the desert, so that they would be able to use its skin. Then it vanished forever.

And what was the "tachash-skin" that was used for the covering of the Mishkan?

When Bnai Yisrael heard this they picked up the tree and carried it with them. They used it as the middle pole of the Mishkan.

When Bnai Yisrael crossed the Yam Suf (see of reeds), angels cut that tree down, and carried it to the Yam Suf. They dropped it in front of the jews and called out, "This is the tree that Avraham planted in Be'er Sheva! He used to stand underneath it and daven (Pray) to Hashem!

When Moshe was at the top of Mont Sinai, Hashm showed him the exact plan according to which the Mishkan should be built.

Hashem shows Moshe the layout of the Mishkan

It is believed that the Garden in Eden was located in the exact same place as the Temple that was to come.

Garden of Eden was created as a pattern for the Mishkan and then the Temple to come.

Hashem was in the Holy of Holies speaking to Moshe.

Mount Sinai was also a Patern the the Miskan to come

Holy of Holies

Holy Place

Court Yard

Holy of Holies:The holiest sectin of the Mishkan contained the aron (Arch of the Covenant) with the luchos (10 words) inside. "My Shechina will rest on the aron, and from there I will speak to you," said Hashem. At the entrance of the kodesh hakodashim hung a curtain called paroches. That curtain divided the kodesh hakodashim from the second section, the kodesh (Holy Place). Only the kohen gadol (High Priest) was allowed to enter teh kodesh hakodashim and only on one day of the year -- Yom Kippur.

The kodesh hakodashim

Holy of Holies

Holy Place

The second part of the Mishkan as less holy than the kodesh hakodashim. It is called the kodesh. In it were the shulchan, the menora, and the mizbach haketores (altar for incense). The two sections together - the kodesh and the kodesh hakodashim -- are called the "ohel moaid."

The kodesh

The third section of the Mishkan was the chatzair, the yard. It was less holy than the kodesh. In it Moshe placed the big mizbaiach (altar) on which all the animal korbanos (sacrifices) were offered.

The chatzair

The aron was the container in which Hashem commanded Moshe to put the luchos which Hashem had given him. Hashem made an aron of fire come down from heaven for Moshe to see what it should look like.

Hashem also explained to Moshe exactly how to make each object in the Mishkan. He began be explaining to him abou the aron, because the aron was the holiest vessel in the Mishkan.

The Aron/Ark

The aron had a gold cover, called the kapores. Made from the same block of gold as the cover were two angels, keruvim. Their faces looked like children's faces

A beautiful golden rim that looked like a crown was attached all around the outer golden box. Two gold-plated wooden gold plated poles were placed inside rings attached tot he sides of the aron so that it could be carried from one place to the next.

The aron was made of three boxes that were open on top, one fitting into the next. The smallest box was of pure gold. It fitted into a bigger box made of wood. The wooden box fitted into the biggest box, which was made of gold.

The Aron/Ark

The keruvim also teach a lesson about Hashem's protection. The aron in which the luchos were placed represents Torah study. Hashem put angels over the aron in order to show us that His angels protect those who study Torah. And, in their zechus (merit), He watches over us.

Angels are usually invisible to us, but they really exist. To remind us that Hashem created real angels, He command making angels as part of the cover of the aron.

We learn many things from the keruvim.

Keruvim

Because their Torah study is greater even than building the Bais Hamikdash. Now you know you precious your Torah learning is?!

All the Jewish children will continue to study the Torah in their yeshivos (schools). And why will they not be told to help?

The Keruvim looked like children. This teaches another point. Hashem especially treasures the Torah learning of children. In its zechus (reward, privledge) He guards all His people. When Mashiach (Messiah) will come and ask all Jews to give a hand with building the new Bai Hemikdash (Temple) in Yerushalayim, all the Jews will leave their jobs to come and help. The storekeeper will rush out of his store and he will ask his customers to come, too. The office worker will leave all his papers on his desk and interrupt his important phone call, because building the Bais Hamikdash is even more important. The truck driver will park his truck somewhere and run to help. Just one group will continue its usual occupation. Do you know who?

The importance of Children's learning

The leviyim were forbidden to carry the aron on wagons; they had to pick up the poles of the aron and carry it on their shoulders.

The aron was the holiest of all the vessels in the Mishkan. It was the centerpiece of the entire Mishkan, because the Shechina (presence) rested on it.

The aron's holiness and miracles

The Midrash tells us:

• Hashem commended Moshe to make a second aron which always traveled ahead of Bnai Yisrael during their 40 years in the desert. This aron shot sparks of fire that killed all the poisonous snakes and the scorpions in the path of the Jews.

• The golden keruvim on the aron would face each other when Hashem was pleased with the Jewish people. when the Jews sinned, however, and Hashem was angry, the Keruvim turned their faces away from each other.

Hashem perfomred many miracles in connection with the aron. Some of them are:

• When the leviyim carried the aron, they felt no weight at all on their shoulders. Not only that but the aron even lifted them and carried them along with it.

Next, Hashem commands Moshe, "Make a shulcan/table (Table of showbread) and put it in the kodesh section of the Mishkan. Twelve loaves of bread (called lechem hapanim) must always rest on the shulcan."

Hashem commands Moshe to make a shulchan/table

The shulcan was made of wood and covered with gold. All around its upper edge ran a beautiful golden rim. Two wooden poles covered with gold each ran through gold rings on the sides of the table. On top of the shulcan were two rows of five open shelves made of golden pipes. Two breads were put on the shulchan itself and ten loaves were put on the open shelves.

Hashem made a shulchan of fire come down from heaven so that Moshe could study it and understand how it should look.

How the shulcan and the lechem hapanim looked

The kohanim on duty in the Mishkan as that time were given the old loaves to eat. However, it was hard to believe that this bread was a week old. For when the lechem hapenim was taken off the table after a week it was never hard, stale or moldy. It tasted as warm and fresh as if it had just been taken out of the oven!

Every shabbos the old loaves were removed and twelve new loaves of lechem hapanim were put down.

Each loaf of lechem hapanim/bread looked like a thick, square matza with both ends standing up.

Because of these holy breads, Hashem went His blessing upom all the food belonging to the Jews. Hashem gave Bnai Yisrael plenty to eat in order that they could study Torah without worrying.

In the time of the Bais Hamikdash, when the Jews came to visit the Bais Hamikdash on Yom Tov, they were shown those old loaves of bread that were still fesh and warm. "See how much Hashem loves you!" the people were told. "His shechina rests in this House and causes miracles to happen."

Every Shabbos, before the lecham hapanim was eaten by the kohanim, the spices in the bowls were burnt and gave off a delicious smell. Afterwards teh kohanim were allowed to each the lechem hapanim.

On the shulchan were put two bowls filled with levona (a spice

The כפות: / bowls

The loaves of lechem hapanim were baked in square iron baking pans. After they were baked they were put into golden pans in which they were brought to the table.

The קערות: / baking pans

Bowls

lechem hapanim

Baking pans

Shulchan

Someone who feeds a poor person (or gives charity to a poor person) should not be proud and think, "I am great because I gave away ," my money to feed a poor man." In reality, Hashem caused the poor man to come to us because Hashem wanted him to have "our" money.

The shulchan in the Mishkan was put in the kodesh, the part of the Mishkan that was next to the kodesh hakodashim where the aron was placed. The aron stands for Torah learning, and the shulchanrepresents food. The shulchan was placed in the neighborhood of the aron to teach us that we should give food to the poor.

The Torah teaches us another important point concerning our table:

There are many fancy foods that a person can buy and eat every day. But the Torah teaches us that we must eat well to be strong and healthy. We may also have some treats to help us learn and work cheerfully. But to stuff ourselves every day with all kinds of sweets and fancy foods in order to please our taste and fill our bellies is not the Torah way. Hashem commanded that a rim go around the shulchan to remind us "to make a rim" around our table at home, to make sure that we stick to eating only those foods that help us serve Hashem.

The shulcan in the Bais Hamikdash (Temple) had a rim all around its edges, a kind of borderline. The borderline reminds a Jew that he must limit the foods he buys and puts on his table.

Today, we no longer have a Mishkan or a Bais Hamikdash with a shulchan in it. But we all have a table at home, and that is a very important table! There are many mitzvos (instruction) we fulfill at table. Some of them we learn from the shulchan in the Bais Hamikdash: (Temple)

How to act now that we no longer have the shulchan/table

The Sages explain:

Rava was very surprised. "That is a very fancy supper," he said. "It is expensive. Don't you think it is wrong to enjoy such expensive foods from tzedaka (Righteous man) money

"Well, for my main meal I usually have a fat, roasted hen and a glass of old wine," answered the beggar.

"Give me food, please!" he begged. Rava invited him in. "We shall serve you a meal right away," he said. "What kind of food are you used to?"

A poor man stood in the doorway, his hands stretched out imploringly.

There was a knock at the door of Rava's home. Rava was one of the great Sages.

Rava and the fancy poor man

From this story we learn that when we give food or money to needy people we should see ourselves as Hashem's messengers who hand out Hashem's gifts.

Rava turned to the beggar. "I owe you an apology," he said. "This food was clearly sent to ou by Hashem. You were right; Hashem does give everybody the food he needs. You trusted Hashem, and He therefore sent you your food. Sit down and eat it."

"Thank you," said Rava and opened the basket. Was he surprised when he found out that it contained a roasted fat hen and a bottle of old wine!

Ravea's sister entered. She had not come to Rava's home for the last thirteen years. In her hand was a basket. She handed it to Rava and said, "I have brought you a gift."

While they were discussin the matter, there was a knock on the door.

used golden tongs to handle the wicks.

At the top of each branch of the menora was a lamp, a small bowl into which the kohanim poured oil and put in a wick. the Kohanim

"The entire menora, including the ornaments, must be made out of one big solid block of gold."

Hashem made a menora of fire come down from heaven to show Moshe how it should look. He explained to Moshe, "It will be made of gold and have seven branches. All its branches will have three kinds of ornaments:

Hashem commanded Moshe to set up a menora next to the shulchan in the Mishkan

The Menora

When the kohen filled the seven lamps of the menora wiht oil in the afternoon, he poured the same amount of oil into each one. By the next morning, six of the lights had buned down, but the middle light (nair ma'aravi) was still burning. the kohen used the middle light to kindle teh other six lights. Then he blew out the middle light and lit it again.

The miracle of the middle light of the menora

The Midrash tells us:

Rather, Hashem performed this miracle to show Bna Yisrael that His Sechina was always in their midst.

Hashem certainly did not need this light to light up the Mishkan. Hashem gives light to the whole world. He put the sun, moon and stars in the sky. so He surely did not need the middle light of the menora in order to light up the Mishkan.

Why did Hashem perform the miracle of keeping the middle light burning?

The shulchan was placed close to the menora to hint that Hashem will reward a tzaddik not only in olam haba (the world to come), but He also provides him with the food he needs in this world.

The flower ornaments of the menora hint at the tzaddikim (righteous man), because the tzaddikim are compared to trees with blooms and fruits. The tzaddikim will be given the enjoyable reward of olam haba. (world to come) There were 9 of them.

It had kaftorim, round ornaments, to hint that just as a circle has no end, so will we enjoy the pleasure of the Shechina in olam haba (the world to come) There were 11 of them

The menora which gives light represents the great reward of olam haba. (the world to come)

What we can learn from the menora

tachash skin

Ram skins dyed red

The top layer: The top layer of tenting was made partly from ram's skins dyed red and partly from tachash skin. (Some kind of sea creature)

The roof the Mishkan consisted of three layers of tenting that were placed on the top of the Mishkan.

The roof of the Mishkan

goats' wool

The Middle Layer: The middle layer of tenting was spun from goats' wool. Part of it was draped over the entrance of the ohel moaid (Tent of meeting), so the entrance looked like a "kalla (a bride) with veil covering her face."

Fine Twined Linen

The bottom layer: This layer was made of ten tapestries that could be seen when one stood inside the Mishkan. They were beautiful works of art, woven with many colors of thread and they had figures of lions and eagles woven into them. The ten tapestries were sewn together into two groups of five. The two groups were attached to each other with loops and goldenn hooks. The row of loops and hooks was above the entrance to the kodesh hakodashim (Most Holy Place). When one looked up to the ceiling from the kodesh-section, the blue loops and golden hooks looked like starts in the sky.

The Torah enumerates all the measurements to teach us that because all parts and objects of the Mishkan were constructed exactly according to Hashem's measurements, they ahd a speacial kedusha, holiness.

The Torah not only describes the Mishkan and its objects but also mentions how many tapestries and what type of animals' skins were in each layer of the roof and tells us the length and width of each object.

Each measurement of the Mishkan is important

The aron (which had teh luchos (10 words inside) represents a talmid chacham (Torah Scholar).

All measurements of the aron (Arch of the covenant) were half cubic (Biblical measurement cubic =19.2 inches): its length was 2 1/2 cubics; its width 1 1/2 cubics, and its height 1 1/2 cubics. It did not have a single measurement of complete cubic, while the other objects of the Mishkan usually had complete cubics.

The measurement dictated by Hashem also teach us many important lessons, for example:

A true talmid chacham is never proud of his accomplishments, because he feels incomplete - he knows how much more there is to study. Therefore, no matter how much Torah he has learnt, he is humble. To teach us how a Torah scholar should feel and act, Hashem gave all half measurements for the aron -- to hint that even after having studied a lot of Torah we are still far from knowing the whole Torah.

This hints to us that all the explanations of our Torah given by all the Sages in all generations are contained in the Torah that Hashem taught Moshe. There is no explanation offered by the later Sages that is not already in some way hinted in the Written Torah or in the Torah shebe'al, the Oral Torah; the later Sages only revealed what is found in the Torah. To teach this point, Hashem commanded that every detail of the menora must be beaten out from the same block of gold.

The entire menora, including all its arms and ornaments, was beaten out from one big block of gold.

The middle layer that covered the Mishkan consisted of five tapestries attached to another six tapestries. The five hint at the five books of the Torah; the six hint at the six books of the Mishna.

The bottom layer of the roof had ten tapestries, corresponding to the Ten Commandments.

5 Books of the Torah

6 tapestries hint to....

6 Books of the Mishna

5 tapestries hint to....

The beams were held together by two gold-covered poles running through rings on the outside of the beams. Another pole ran through holes in the center of every beam.

The walls of the Mishkan were built from beams of shittim wood that were 10 cubics (about 20 feet) and stood upright. The bottom of each beam was inserted into two silver sockets, ארנים/adanim.

The walls of the Mishkan

No part of the Mishkan was ever thrown away. All the beams and the other parts were hidden by King Shlomo inthe Bais Hamikdash (Temple). Each of its parts was holy because it had been made and donated by tzaddikim (righteous men). Our Sages explain that in the future the original parts of the Mishkan will be dug out, and Hashem will again let His Shechina (presence) rest on them.

A time came when the beams, poles, and silver sockets of the Mishkan were no longer needed. This happened when King Shlomo built a new dwelling place for Hashem, the Bais Hamikdash in Yerushalayim, about five hundred years after the Mishkanin the desert was set up. What did Shlomo do then with the parts of the Mishkan?

The Midrash explains:

The parts of the Mishkan were never lost

Another curtain, also called masah, was hung at the entrance of the Mishkan.

At the entrance to the yard of the Mishkan a beautiful curtan called the masach was draped on four poles.

The entrance curtains

A special curtain called the paroches divided the kodesh (Holy Place) from the kodesh hakodashim (The Holy of Holies).

Curtains

Hashem explained to Moshe how to make a big altar for animal sacrifices. It would stand int the yard of the Mishkan.

Mizback Hoalah / The altar for animal sacrifices

The altar was made from shittim-wood and covered with copper, which is why it is sometimes called the Copper Altar.

Altar

The kohanim sprinkled the blood of some korbanos (sacrifices) onto the upper half and the blood of other korbanos onto the lower half.

Underneath the karkov a copper net (reshes) surrounded the mizbaiach. The net divided the mizbaiach into an upper half and a lower half.

A of copper with flowery design was placed around the middle of the mizbaiach (Altar). It was called כרכב / karkov. The karkov made the mizbaiach look beautiful.

Each of the four corners had a copper "horn" on the top, a square block open on top, on which the kohanim (priest) used to put the blood of some sacrifices.

The altar was 3 cubics (amos) (about 6 feet) high; and according to other opionions 10 cubics (20 feet) high.

altar

The mizbaiach had two poles set in rings on its sides, so that it could be carried whenever Bnai Yisrael traveled. The mizbaiah was hollow inside and filled with earth whenever Bnai Yisrael encamped, which is why it is sometimes called the Earthern Altar.

Altar

• The fire on the mizbaiah never melted the copper or burned the wood under the copper.

• The smoke of the korbanos (sacrifices) always went up to the sky straight as a pillar. The wind was never able to blow the smoke in any direction.

• This altar stood in the courtyard of the Mishkan, open to the sky. Nevertheless, the rain never extinguished the fire on it.

Some miracles of the copper altar

Midrash - Altar

The yard was closed in with קלצים / net curtains, which were hung from hooks on צמוךים / pillars that were placed all around the yard and which were five cubics (about10 feet high). Since the entire yard was enclosed by those curtains, an outsider could not see the kohanim (priest) when they offered the animal sacrifices on the mizbaiach in the yard.

The yard of the Mishkan

2. So that the non-Jews would have great respect for the Jews when they heard about the Mishkan that the Jews had built. They said, "The Jews used to slaves in Egypt, but now they are very rich. They had enough gold, silver, and precious materials to build a marvelous tent. They must also have wiser men and greater artists among them than any other people, or else how could they have made the complicated designs of the menora and the other objects of the Mishkan.

1. So that every Jew who entered the Mishkan would be impressed by its wonderful beauty. He would behave respectfully and realize that the shechina (presence of God) was dwelling in this holy place.

Rather, He wanted the Mishkan to look beautiful for two reasons:

Hashem commanded Bnai Yisrael to make the Mishkan and its holy vessels of gold, silver, and other precious materials, but not because He needs a beautiful and expensive home.

Why the Mishkan was made of so many precious materials

Are you a parsha expert?

1. Hashem said to Moshe, "Let the Jews take off a part from their money." Hashem used the word "take" rather than "give" because no human being can ever give anything to Hashem since whatever we have belongs to Him (Levush Haorah to Rashi).

Here are some answers:

When Hashem wanted Bnai Yisrael to give materials for the Mishkan, why did He say to Moshe, "ויקחולי / Let them take (for) Me a donation?" Shouldn't he have said , "ויתנולי / Let them give Me a donation"?

The Problem of the Week

3. Here is an interesting explanation, even though it does not follow the peshat (simple meaning) of the passuk: (verse)

2. Whenever a person gives tzedaka (charitable giving) or spends money on a mitzva (good deed) he really takes the money for himself. How? The zechus (merit) of the tzedaka remains his own forever, even after he dies. On the other hand, when a person buys something for himself, it is not really his own, because he has it only while he lives, but leaves it behind once he dies. So when someone give something to Hashem, we may say that he takes it because he takes the reward of the mitzva forever for himself (Tzror Hamor)

He contributed the precious gems for the aifod and the choshen whe He sent clouds from which these precious rems rained down (Chida).

Hashem said, ויקחו לי תרומה, meaning, "Let the Jews take (from) Me a donation!" Hashem gave a donation, so-to-speak, for the Mishkan. What was it?