Moses the Master Fundraiser

The second verse of this weeks Sedra begins with Moshe asking the Jewish
people to donate for the building of the Mishkan. Speak to the Israelites and have
them bring Me an offering. Take My offering from everyone whose heart impels him
to give (Exodus 25:2). This verse adds an interesting perspective on Moshes
leadership. Not only is he required to be the spiritual leader of all the Jews, but he is
also required to fundraise the building of the Mishkan. Later in Exodus, we learn that
Moshe is successful to the extent that tells the Jews to stop bringing more gifts
because they brought more than enough.
An interesting story told over by Rabbi Riskin may explain this phenomenon.
Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, the founder of the Musar movement, had a student named
Rabbi Yosef Roizen, who founded the network of Novardok Yeshivas. The Novardok
Yeshiva system preached of not caring what others think of ones service of God,
but rather what God thinks. Before the Holocaust, over 180 Novardok Yeshivas were
spread across Europe. Tragically, only one survived. There was a student of Rabbi
Yosef Roizen who was thrown out of the Novardok Yeshiva by Rabbi Roizen. A Rosh
Yeshiva from another Yeshiva accepted him and took him in. The student studied for
several years, left the Yeshiva, and became a successful businessman.
After the news spread that this former student was very philanthropic, Rabbi
Yosef Roizen requested an audience with this businessman to raise money for a new
Novardok Yeshiva. He received one million rubles, an extremely large sum in those
days. The other Rosh Yeshiva, with visions of diamonds and pearls floating in his
head, visited the businessman and only received 18 rubles. Shocked, the Rosh
Yeshiva asked his former student what warranted this occurrence. The student
explained When Rabbi Roizen visited me, he showed utter disdain for anything
materialistic. He walked in with his muddy boots, didnt stop to look at the fancy
paintings or exquisite furniture, and, immediately after he walked in, started talking
about the need for another Yeshiva.
When I was in the presence of Rabbi Roizen, money lost all its value; the only
important thing was Torah and what a Torah institution could accomplish. In his
presence, money did not mean much, so I gave him one million rubles. When you
came to see me, it was a different story. Your eyes opened wide at the expensive
paintings, your mouth dropped at the beauty of the interior decorum. Not only did
you take off your outer muddy boots, but you took off your shoes as well. You looked
all around in amazement at the furnishings, and when you sat on the couch it was
as if you were sitting on eggshells. You called me Reb, an honorific title certainly
not because of the Torah that I have learned, but rather for my riches. In your
presence, my money became very valuable. If you respect my wealth so much, I
must certainly respect it as well, too much to give a lot of it away.

Moshe had no appreciation of gold, silver, copper, and precious stones. He

only carried about the Torah and the spiritual development of the Jewish peoplein
his presence, the Jewish people gave freely of their wealth. So, too, must we
emulate this optimal mindset and value the growth of our People more than the
growth of our material possessions.

And they shall make an Ark . . . two and a half cubits its length, and a cubit and a
half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height (Ex. 25:10)
As our Sages put it, "The place of the Ark was not subject to measure." Miraculously,
the Ark of the Covenant (containing the two Tablets of the Law) did not take up any
space in the Holy of Holies. Although built to the above dimensions, if one measured
the distance between the Ark and the four walls, the result was the same as if there
were nothing at all in the chamber. Similarly, a true Torah scholar does not "take up
any space." Humble and self-effacing, he shuns the limelight and does not ask for
special honors.
(HaDrush VehaIyun)

Their knobs and their branches shall be out of one piece; all of it shall be one piece
of beaten work (miksheh) of pure gold (Ex. 25:36)
The Hebrew word "miksheh" is related to "kasheh," meaning difficult or hard. It is a
very difficult thing, the Torah tells us, to reach the level of "pure gold," making sure
that our every penny is "kosher," untainted by the slightest hint of fraud or
deception. Yet a person who does so is likened to the menora, whose purity
illuminates the very heavens.
(Rishpei Eish)

They shall make Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst (Ex. 25:8)
Conversely, the "indwelling" of G-d in the Sanctuary is directly proportional to the
amount of effort we invest in sanctifying our lives. When a Jew brings holiness into
his daily routine and mundane affairs, it causes the holiness in the Temple in
Jerusalem to intensify as well.
(Avnei Ezel)