Parshat Yayakhel

 There is a disturbing difference in the way the Jewish people donated to the building of the Mishkan as opposed to the way they donated to the making of the Golden calf.  With regard to the golden calf, the verse says, “All the people broke off their earrings of gold…and they brought them to Aaron” (Exodus 32, 3).  With regard to the Mishkan, the word “bringing” is used in one form or another 9 times throughout this week’s Parsha. 

On the surface, this week’s Parsha depicts a picture of goodwill and a voluntary spirit with regard to the way in which material was brought for the building of the Mishkan.  But what is disturbing to me is that the Torah says for the golden calf “all the people,” gave their earrings to build the calf; for the Mishkan, the people who brought materials are qualified in a few different ways.  The people who brought were: “every man whose heart stirred him up and every one whom his spirit made willing,” “every willing heart,” “every wise-hearted woman,” or “every man or woman whose heart moved them” (Exodus 35, 21-29). 

It seems that everyone was willing to give to the golden calf, but only certain types of people gave to the holy cause of building the Mishkan.  How are we to understand this?  I think this difficulty in the text is really just an extreme example of a reality to which we can all relate.  When it comes to spending money on mundane things, vices, or luxuries we often spend small amounts carelessly.

When the Torah says that “all the people broke off their earring,” it could be describing how it was very easy for the masses to give a little bit without giving it much thought.  In contrast, when it comes to giving for a holy purpose, the Torah doesn’t want us to give carelessly.  The way in which they gave to the Mishkan was drastically different from the way they gave to the golden calf.  For the Mishkan, the Torah is teaching us that the people’s hearts were moved to give, to give with enthusiasm, and to give thoughtfully.  There was an earnestness and excitement in the way they brought their donations for the Mishkan.  The people gave so much that they actually brought too much!  Moses (in Exodus 36, 6) had to tell the people to stop bringing. 

The lesson the Torah portion has for us is not about if we give, it’s about how do we give.  The people gave small amounts without much thought to a bad cause, but those who gave to a good cause did it with gusto!  Not everyone donates their money or their time with passion, but those that do are doing it in the same spirit as those who donated for the Mishkan.  Some people can give large sums of money, some people can give small, some people can volunteer a lot of time to the community and some people can do less.  The lesson is that it’s not about how much we give; it’s about the way in which we give.  When giving of ourselves to the community, we should give in an inspired way, and give with passion for the holy cause.  Let it be that the Jewish community will have an abundance of support just as there was with the Mishkan.