What was the primary reason for Moshe’s detailed accounting of the costs of the Sanctuary? Chazal commented that there were apparently some who suspected that Moshe might have kept some of their Sanctuary contributions for his own use. Accordingly, he responded by showing one and all that every single coin and article contributed was indeed used for the Sanctuary. This illustrates the importance of not judging another person hastily. This lesson is also illustrated by the following two stories: a. Two valid witnesses appeared before the Rabbinical Court to testify that they had seen Rabbi Bunim eating cake and coffee on Yom Kippur. The Rabbis investigated the matter and found out exactly what had happened. Rabbi Bunim’s daughter-in-law gave birth right before Yom Kippur. About an hour into Yom Kippur, Rabbi Bunim asked her if she had eaten anything as one is required to eat despite the fast in such circumstances. When he was told that she refused to eat because it was Yom Kippur, he insisted that she take some refreshments. She refused to eat unless her father-in-law personally gave her the food. Since this was a matter of saving a life, Rabbi Bunim took cake and coffee in hand and brought them to her. Just at that moment, the two witnesses looked out the window and saw the Rabbi carrying the food and mistakenly assumed that he was going to eat the food himself.
- Rabbi Aryeh Levin was well known for his care in judging everyone favorably.He once related to somehow how he acquired this attribute: “It happened when I attended the funeral of Rabbi Eliezer Rivlin, a prominent treasurer of charity funds in Jerusalem. The deceased has an intimate friend, Rabbi Shmuel Kook, with whom he has worked for 30 years. When the funeral procession began, I noticed Rabbi Kook enter a flower shop and buy a flower pot. I was shocked and went over to Rabbi Kook to rebuke him. Is this the way you add to the funeral of a life-long friend?’ I censured him, Couldn’t you find a more appropriate time to buy a flower pot?’ Rabbi Kook then explained his behavior. He had befriended someone who was hospitalized with a highly contagious disease and had died the day before. The doctors, who were not Jewish, ordered that all of his belongings be burned. When Rabbi Kook heard about the orders, he pleaded with the doctors not to burn the man’s Tefillin, but to allow him them to be carefully buried instead. The doctors agreed that if he obtained a earthenware pot they would permit the Tefillin to be buried in it. But, they warned him that he only had until 12 noon. Therefore, he had to leave the funeral procession of his best friend in order to meet the deadline. “At that moment, I made a resolution to always judge others favorably.”
“These are the reckonings of the Tabernacle.” Rav Moshe Feinstein explains: The accounting of the various materials donated for the Mishkon interrupts between the narrative of the construction of the Mishkon and the fabrication of the priestly garments, which begin afterwards with the making of the Ephod. This verse holds a profound lesson which can constantly be applied to our lives: just as the artisans had to account for their use of every ounce of materials that was donated for the construction of the Mishkon and its furnishings, so also must we be able to give an accounting for the bounty with which Hashem has blessed us. Did we devote the time and years which Hashem allots us to Torah and mitzvos? Did we use our money and possessions for charity, hospitality and helping people? We should not think that the resources which Hashem gives us are ours to use as we desire. On the contrary, the Torah gives detailed rules governing our conduct and the use of our property. Each of us will be called upon to account as to whether we have used all of the talents and resources which Hashem has provided us to fulfill His will through Torah and mitzvos. A famous story is told in the name of many great Chassidic Rebbes, including Reb Zusia. He often said that after a person dies and ascends to the heavens for judgment, he is required to defend his past actions and behavior. But, he isn’t asked why he wasn’t as great as Moshe, as learned as Rabbi Akiva, etc. Each person has difficult capabilities and is only asked why he didn’t use his G-d-given talents to the fullest — was he as great as he could have been?! Prepared by Devorah Abenhaim
