In this week’s parshah, the Torah describes the gold, silver, and other precious items donated for the Mishkan. The passuk first tells us about “all the gold...” and then specifies the precise amounts.
According to the Sforno, this hints that the value of the items used in the building of the Mishkan was quite limited, as well as being significantly less than the value of the precious items used in the construction of either the First or the Second Beis Hamikdash. In fact, the value of the precious items used in the building of Bayis Sheini was far greater than that in Bayis Rishon, which was in turn far greater than that used in the Mishkan. And yet, the Sforno writes, the presence of the Shechinah was felt far more strongly in the Mishkan, less so in Bayis Rishon, and far less so in Bayis Sheini.
This comes to teach us that although we might assume, from our human perspective, that greater material expense has a correspondingly greater spiritual benefit, the opposite can actually be true. What Hashem really wants from us is the desire of our hearts to serve Him in truth and sincerity. When we are genuinely devoted to Him, we open up the space for His Shechinah to enter, even if we are not able to donate so lavishly in a material sense.
In our own homes, the mikdash me’at into which we seek to usher Hashem’s presence, the same lesson applies. The Shechinah will feel welcome in a home of harmony in which each spouse respects the other. Often, people experiencing issues with shalom bayis assume that “more” will solve the problems — more gifts, more helping out in the home, more compliments... The Torah teaches us that “more” in the material sense is not always the answer. Sometimes what we need is to respect more, not give more presents; to find more ways to show that we care and love, rather than give a new credit card.
And when we get to the root of the problem, we will often find that instead of needing to always give more, “less” can usually be just as good, because often it’s the intention and meaning that counts.
