Vayakhel/Shekalim 2022
קְח֨וּ מֵֽאִתְּכֶ֤ם תְּרוּמָה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה כֹּ֚ל נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ יְבִיאֶ֕הָ אֵ֖ת תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
Take from among you gifts to יהוה; everyone whose heart is so moved shall bring them—gifts for יהוה: gold, silver, and copper;
נדיב לבו. עַל שֵׁם שֶׁלִּבּוֹ נוֹדְבוֹ, קָרוּי נְדִיב לֵב. כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי נִדְבַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וּמְלַאכְתּוֹ בִּמְקוֹם צַוָּאתָן:
נדיב לבו [WHOSOEVER] IS OF A WILLING HEART — Because his heart prompts one to generosity, he is called נדיב לב, one who is prompted to generosity by the heart. I have already explained the various materials which formed the contribution towards the Tabernacle and the work done for it in the passages where the commands about them were given.
קחו. הפך תנו. רק בהיות מ"ם אחר גזרת לקיחה הנה היא כמו נתינה. קחי [נא] לי מעט מים פירוש כי הלקיחה לי היא בעבורי וככה קחו מאתכם תרומה לה'.
TAKE. The word kechu (take) is the opposite of tenu (give). However, when a mem follows a word from the root lamed, kof, chet, then it has the meaning of give. The meaning of kechu li (take me) in Take me, I pray thee, a little water (I Kings 17:10) is, take for me, take on my account. It is the same case with Take (kechu) ye from among you (me-ittekhem) an offering unto the Lord (la-Adonai).
ומלת כל נדיב לבו. זרה כל אשר נדבו לבו. כמו בגדול זרועך בזרועך הגדול זכר רב טובך. זכר טובך הרב. ורבי ישועה אמר כי הוי"ו נוסף. כמו חיתו שדי. בנו בעור.
[WHOSOEVER IS OF A WILLING HEART.] The phrase kol nediv libbo (whosoever is of a willing heart) is irregular. It should be interpreted as if written kol asher nedavo libbo (all whose heart made them willing). We find the same with bi-gedol zero’akha (By the greatness of Thine arm) (Ex. 15:16), which should be interpreted as if written bi-zero’akha ha-gadol (by Thy great arm); and zekher rav tuvekha (the fame of Thy great goodness) (Ps. 145:7), which should be interpreted as if written zekher tuvekha ha-rav (the fame of goodness which is great). Rabbi Joshua says that the vav of libbo is superfluous. It is similar to the vav of chayeto in chayeto sadai (every beast of the field) (Ps. 104:11) and the vav of beno in beno be’or (Balaam the son of Beor) (Num. 24:3).
רַבִּי יִצְחָק אוֹמֵר: יֵשׁ לָהֶם עַל מָה שֶׁיִּסָּמֵכוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹּל נְדִיב לִבּוֹ״. חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן אֲחִי רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: יֵשׁ לָהֶם עַל מָה שֶׁיִּסָּמֵכוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי וָאֲקַיֵּימָה לִשְׁמוֹר מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ״.
Rabbi Yitzḥak says: These halakhot have something to support them, as it is stated: “Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it” (Exodus 35:5). This verse indicates that as long as one retains the same desire to fulfill the vow, he must continue to fulfill it, but if he regrets taking the vow he may arrange for it to be dissolved. Ḥananya, son of Rabbi Yehoshua’s brother, also says: They have something to support them, as it is stated: “I have sworn, and have fulfilled it, to observe your righteous ordinances” (Psalms 119:106). This verse indicates that certain oaths need not be fulfilled, i.e., those that have been dissolved.
רִבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר פָּזִי בְשֵׁם רִבִּי. הֵן נִקְרָא וְלֹא נִבְהַת. לְטוֹבָה כֹּ֚ל נְדִ֣יב לֵב. לְרָעָה וַיִּֽתְפָּֽרְקוּ֙ כָּל־הָעָ֔ם אֶת־נִזְמֵ֥י הַזָּהָב֭ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּאָזְנֵיהֶ֑ם. לטוֹבָה וַיּוֹצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֧ה אֶת־הָעָ֛ם. לְרָעָה וַתִּקְרְב֣וּן אֵלַי֮ כּוּלְּכֶם. לְטוֹבָה אָ֣ז יָֽשִׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֙י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל. לְרָעָה וַיִּשָּׂא כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַֽיִּתְּנ֖וּ אֶת־קוֹלָם֑. אָמַר רִבִּי חִייָא בַּר בָּא. אָכֵן֙ הִשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ הִשְׁחִ֔יתוּ. כָּל־הַשְׁחָתָה שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹשִׂין בְּהַשְׁכָּמָה הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין אוֹתָהּ. אָמַר רִבִּי בָּא בַּר אָחָא. אֵין אַתְּ יָכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד עַל אוֹפִי שֶׁלְּאוּמָּה הַזֹּאת. נִתְבָּעִין לָעֶגֶל וְנוֹתְנִין. נִתְבָּעִין לַמִּשְׁכָּן וְנוֹתְנִין. תַּנָּה רִבִּי יוֹסֵה בֶּן חֲנִינָה הָדָא מַתְנִיתָא. וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ כַפּוֹרֶת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר. יָבוֹא זָהָב שֶׁלְכַּפֹּרֶת וִיכַפֵּר עַל זְהָבוֹ שֶׁלְעֶגֶל.
Rebbi Jehudah bar Pazi in the name of Rebbi: May one read this and not be ashamed? In a good sense, every one of goodwill; in a bad sense, all the people took off the gold rings in their ears. In a good sense, Moses led the people out; in a bad sense, all of you ganged up against me. In a good sense, then Moses and the Children of Israel sang; in a bad sense, the entire congregation started wailing. Rebbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said, indeed they got up early to destroy. Any destructive action they made early in the morning. Rebbi Abba bar Aḥa said, one cannot understand the character of this people; they are asked for the {golden} calf and are giving, for the Sanctuary and are giving. Rebbi Yose ben Ḥanina stated this baraita: You shall make a cover of pure gold, may the gold of the cover come and atone for the gold of the calf.

(א) וְעָשָׂה֩ בְצַלְאֵ֨ל וְאׇהֳלִיאָ֜ב וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אִ֣ישׁ חֲכַם־לֵ֗ב אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֜ה חׇכְמָ֤ה וּתְבוּנָה֙ בָּהֵ֔מָּה לָדַ֣עַת לַעֲשֹׂ֔ת אֶֽת־כׇּל־מְלֶ֖אכֶת עֲבֹדַ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖ה יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ב) וַיִּקְרָ֣א מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶל־בְּצַלְאֵל֮ וְאֶל־אׇֽהֳלִיאָב֒ וְאֶל֙ כׇּל־אִ֣ישׁ חֲכַם־לֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה חׇכְמָ֖ה בְּלִבּ֑וֹ כֹּ֚ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר נְשָׂא֣וֹ לִבּ֔וֹ לְקׇרְבָ֥ה אֶל־הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת אֹתָֽהּ׃ (ג) וַיִּקְח֞וּ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֵ֤ת כׇּל־הַתְּרוּמָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵבִ֜יאוּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לִמְלֶ֛אכֶת עֲבֹדַ֥ת הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ לַעֲשֹׂ֣ת אֹתָ֑הּ וְ֠הֵ֠ם הֵבִ֨יאוּ אֵלָ֥יו ע֛וֹד נְדָבָ֖ה בַּבֹּ֥קֶר בַּבֹּֽקֶר׃ (ד) וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ כׇּל־הַ֣חֲכָמִ֔ים הָעֹשִׂ֕ים אֵ֖ת כׇּל־מְלֶ֣אכֶת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ אִֽישׁ־אִ֥ישׁ מִמְּלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֥מָּה עֹשִֽׂים׃ (ה) וַיֹּאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה לֵּאמֹ֔ר מַרְבִּ֥ים הָעָ֖ם לְהָבִ֑יא מִדֵּ֤י הָֽעֲבֹדָה֙ לַמְּלָאכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת אֹתָֽהּ׃

(1) Let, then, Bezalel and Oholiab and all the skilled persons whom יהוה has endowed with skill and ability to perform expertly all the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary carry out all that יהוה has commanded. (2) Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skilled person whom יהוה had endowed with skill, everyone who excelled in ability, to undertake the task and carry it out. (3) They took over from Moses all the gifts that the Israelites had brought, to carry out the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary. But when these continued to bring freewill offerings to him morning after morning, (4) all the artisans who were engaged in the tasks of the sanctuary came, from the task upon which each one was engaged, (5) and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed for the tasks entailed in the work that יהוה has commanded to be done.”

Rabbi Abraham ha-Cohen Kook, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of (pre-State) Israel, describing his time in London during the First World War:

When I lived in London, I would visit the National Gallery, and the paintings that I loved the most were those of Rembrandt. In my opinion Rembrandt was a saint. When I first saw Rembrandt’s paintings, they reminded me of the rabbinic statement about the creation of light. When God created the light [on the first day], it was so strong and luminous that it was possible to see from one end of the world to the other. And God feared that the wicked would make use of it. What did He do? He secreted it for the righteous in the world to come. But from time to time there are great men whom God blesses with a vision of that hidden light. I believe that Rembrandt was one of them, and the light in his paintings is that light which God created on Genesis day.

(ב) הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה כְּב֣וֹד שְׁמ֑וֹ הִשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃
(2) Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name;
bow down to the LORD, majestic in holiness.
(א) בֶּן־שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִ֖ים יְהוֹאָ֥שׁ בְּמׇלְכֽוֹ׃ {פ}
(ב) בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁ֤בַע לְיֵהוּא֙ מָלַ֣ךְ יְהוֹאָ֔שׁ וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ צִבְיָ֖ה מִבְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃ (ג) וַיַּ֨עַשׂ יְהוֹאָ֧שׁ הַיָּשָׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה כׇּל־יָמָ֑יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוֹרָ֔הוּ יְהוֹיָדָ֖ע הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (ד) רַ֥ק הַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־סָ֑רוּ ע֥וֹד הָעָ֛ם מְזַבְּחִ֥ים וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים בַּבָּמֽוֹת׃ (ה) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹאָ֜שׁ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים כֹּל֩ כֶּ֨סֶף הַקֳּדָשִׁ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־יוּבָ֤א בֵית־יְהֹוָה֙ כֶּ֣סֶף עוֹבֵ֔ר אִ֕ישׁ כֶּ֥סֶף נַפְשׁ֖וֹת עֶרְכּ֑וֹ כׇּל־כֶּ֗סֶף אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַֽעֲלֶה֙ עַ֣ל לֶב־אִ֔ישׁ לְהָבִ֖יא בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ו) יִקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים אִ֖ישׁ מֵאֵ֣ת מַכָּר֑וֹ וְהֵ֗ם יְחַזְּקוּ֙ אֶת־בֶּ֣דֶק הַבַּ֔יִת לְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֥א שָׁ֖ם בָּֽדֶק׃ {פ}
(ז) וַיְהִ֗י בִּשְׁנַ֨ת עֶשְׂרִ֧ים וְשָׁלֹ֛שׁ שָׁנָ֖ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יְהוֹאָ֑שׁ לֹא־חִזְּק֥וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אֶת־בֶּ֥דֶק הַבָּֽיִת׃ (ח) וַיִּקְרָא֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ יְהוֹאָ֜שׁ לִיהוֹיָדָ֤ע הַכֹּהֵן֙ וְלַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם מַדּ֛וּעַ אֵינְכֶ֥ם מְחַזְּקִ֖ים אֶת־בֶּ֣דֶק הַבָּ֑יִת וְעַתָּ֗ה אַל־תִּקְחֽוּ־כֶ֙סֶף֙ מֵאֵ֣ת מַכָּרֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־לְבֶ֥דֶק הַבַּ֖יִת תִּתְּנֻֽהוּ׃ (ט) וַיֵּאֹ֖תוּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים לְבִלְתִּ֤י קְחַת־כֶּ֙סֶף֙ מֵאֵ֣ת הָעָ֔ם וּלְבִלְתִּ֥י חַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־בֶּ֥דֶק הַבָּֽיִת׃ (י) וַיִּקַּ֞ח יְהוֹיָדָ֤ע הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֲר֣וֹן אֶחָ֔ד וַיִּקֹּ֥ב חֹ֖ר בְּדַלְתּ֑וֹ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹתוֹ֩ אֵ֨צֶל הַמִּזְבֵּ֜חַ (בימין) [מִיָּמִ֗ין] בְּבוֹא־אִישׁ֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנָֽתְנוּ־שָׁ֤מָּה הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ שֹׁמְרֵ֣י הַסַּ֔ף אֶת־כׇּל־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַמּוּבָ֥א בֵית־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יא) וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּרְאוֹתָ֔ם כִּי־רַ֥ב הַכֶּ֖סֶף בָּאָר֑וֹן וַיַּ֨עַל סֹפֵ֤ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְהַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל וַיָּצֻ֙רוּ֙ וַיִּמְנ֔וּ אֶת־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֥א בֵית־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יב) וְנָֽתְנוּ֙ אֶת־הַכֶּ֣סֶף הַֽמְתֻכָּ֔ן עַל־[יְדֵי֙] (יד) עֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה (הפקדים) [הַמֻּפְקָדִ֖ים] בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיּוֹצִיאֻ֜הוּ לְחׇרָשֵׁ֤י הָעֵץ֙ וְלַבֹּנִ֔ים הָעֹשִׂ֖ים בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יג) וְלַגֹּֽדְרִים֙ וּלְחֹצְבֵ֣י הָאֶ֔בֶן וְלִקְנ֤וֹת עֵצִים֙ וְאַבְנֵ֣י מַחְצֵ֔ב לְחַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־בֶּ֣דֶק בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֑ה וּלְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵ֥א עַל־הַבַּ֖יִת לְחׇזְקָֽה׃ (יד) אַךְ֩ לֹ֨א יֵעָשֶׂ֜ה בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֗ה סִפּ֥וֹת כֶּ֙סֶף֙ מְזַמְּר֤וֹת מִזְרָקוֹת֙ חֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת כׇּל־כְּלִ֥י זָהָ֖ב וּכְלִי־כָ֑סֶף מִן־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַמּוּבָ֥א בֵית־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (טו) כִּֽי־לְעֹשֵׂ֥י הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה יִתְּנֻ֑הוּ וְחִזְּקוּ־ב֖וֹ אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ (טז) וְלֹ֧א יְחַשְּׁב֣וּ אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתְּנ֤וּ אֶת־הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ עַל־יָדָ֔ם לָתֵ֖ת לְעֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֑ה כִּ֥י בֶאֱמֻנָ֖ה הֵ֥ם עֹשִֽׂים׃ (יז) כֶּ֤סֶף אָשָׁם֙ וְכֶ֣סֶף חַטָּא֔וֹת לֹ֥א יוּבָ֖א בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים יִֽהְיֽוּ׃ {פ}
(1) Jehoash was seven years old when he became king. (2) Jehoash began his reign in the seventh year of Jehu, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. (3) All his days Jehoash did what was pleasing to the LORD, as the priest Jehoiada instructed him. (4) The shrines, however, were not removed; the people continued to sacrifice and offer at the shrines.
(5) Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money, current money, brought into the House of the LORD as sacred donations—any money a man may pay as the money equivalent of persons,-a or any other money that a man may be minded to bring to the House of the LORD (6) let the priests receive it, each from his benefactor; they, in turn, shall make repairs on the House, wherever damage may be found.” (7) But in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, [it was found that] the priests had not made the repairs on the House. (8) So King Jehoash summoned the priest Jehoiada and the other priests and said to them, “Why have you not kept the House in repair? Now do not accept money from your benefactors any more, but have it donated for the repair of the House.” (9) The priests agreed that they would neither accept money from the people nor make repairs on the House. (10) And the priest Jehoiada took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it at the right side of the altar as one entered the House of the LORD, and the priestly guards of the threshold deposited there all the money that was brought into the House of the LORD. (11) Whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the royal scribe and the high priest would come up and put the money accumulated in the House of the LORD into bags, and they would count it. (12) Then they would deliver the money that was weighed out-b to the overseers of the work, who were in charge of the House of the LORD. These, in turn, used to pay the carpenters and the laborers who worked on the House of the LORD, (13) and the masons and the stonecutters. They also paid for wood and for quarried stone with which to make the repairs on the House of the LORD, and for every other expenditure that had to be made in repairing the House. (14) However, no silver bowls and no snuffers, basins, or trumpets—no vessels of gold or silver—were made at the House of the LORD from the money brought into the House of the LORD; (15) this was given only to the overseers of the work for the repair of the House of the LORD. (16) No check was kept on the men to whom the money was delivered to pay the workers; for they dealt honestly. (17) Money brought as a guilt offering or as a sin offering-c was not deposited in the House of the LORD; it went to the priests.
מִמַּאי? דִּילְמָא דָּוִד שָׁאנֵי, דַּהֲוָה מְצַעַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ בְּרַחֲמֵי טוּבָא. אֶלָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, מֵהָכָא: ״הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַה׳ בְּהַדְרַת קֹדֶשׁ״: אַל תִּקְרֵי ״בְּהַדְרַת״ אֶלָּא ״בְּחֶרְדַּת״.
The Gemara rejects this proof as well: From what does that conclusion ensue? Perhaps David is different, as he would excessively afflict himself in prayer in order to atone for his transgression with Bathsheba. Consequently, his cannot serve as a paradigm for proper conduct in prayer. Rather, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, it can be derived from here, from this verse that David said, not about his own worship, but about worship of God in general: “Give, unto the Lord, the honor of His name, bow to the Lord in the beauty of holiness [behadrat kodesh]” (Psalms 29:2). Do not read: In the beauty of [behadrat] holiness. Rather read: In trembling of [beḥerdat] holiness; one must enter into prayer from an atmosphere of gravity engendered by sanctity.