Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei (HaChodesh) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 1 day ago
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כל איש ואשה אשר נדב לבם אתם ... הביאו בני ישראל נדבה לה' ... (לה-כט)
R’ Gavriel Zev Margolis zt”l asks two obvious questions on this posuk. First of all, the word "הביא" is seemingly repeated. Also, why does the posuk begin with "איש ואשה" and then close with "בני ישראל"? He answers with a lesson in chinuch. True, the adults had the idea and desire to donate towards the building of the משכן. But they also wanted their children to have a share in the construction, to have a connection; thereby getting them used to being involved in צרכי ציבור. Thus, they sent in donations with the younger generation. As the posuk in Mishlei says, "חנוך לנער... גם כי יזקין לא יסור ממנה". By starting them off at a young age on the correct path, then when they get older they’ll retain the love and passion for עבודת ה'. As the posuk says, "איש ואשה" - the parents wanted to bring the נדבה, but l’maaseh"הביאו בני ישראל" - the next דור delivered it.
In Parshas Pekudei (לט, מג) the posuk says,"ויברך אתם משה" . Rashi quotes a Chazal: "אמר להם, יהי רצון שתשרה שכינה במעשה ידיכם". Sefer Chasidim asks why was it required to bentch them? Hashem had already promised them "ושכנתי בתוכם".
R’ Shmuel Dovid Walkin zt”l answers that we find in Shas (Shabbos 32b) that one’s offspring could be referred to as מעשי ידיכם. He explains: Granted, Klal Yisroel was promised ושכנתי בתוכם but that was only for that generation. Moshe therefore blessed the yidden, "שתשרה שכינה במעשה ידיכם" - the ברכה should extend even to the future doros. And what better way to be zoche to that beracha, than by actively involving the children? With the passing of our Matriarch, Babbi Chani Kofman a”h, last Shabbos, Klal Yisroel lost a pillar of chessed, who, along with her illustrious husband (בעל מחשבת הלב) ingrained in their progeny these lofty ideals of צדקה וחסד and in turn, we must continue the mesorah, and pass these traits on to the future generations. May we all be zoche to internalize this lesson and see much nachas from all our מעשה ידינו.