"תֻדֵעָה ןַּכְׁשִמ ןָּכְׁשִּמַה יֵדוּקְפ הֶּלֵא"
“These are the accountings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of the testimony” (Shemos 38:22)
The Midrash on this pasuk explains that the repetition of the words "HaMishkan, Mishkan" are an allusion to the two Batei Mikdash, that were tragically destroyed due to sin. Why at this juncture of the inauguration of the Mishkan does the Torah seek to allude to the destruction of the Batei Mikdash?
Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l explains: in our parashah, Moshe Rabbeinu made a public accounting of all the materials donated to the Mishkan, and in what way they were used. This public accounting served a dual purpose: one being that no one should suspect him of misappropriating the materials, and secondly, that he himself should not be tempted to do so! Surprisingly, Moshe Rabbeinu, the greatest of our prophets and a Godly man, felt it worthwhile to place precautions to ensure he would not succumb to petty thievery.
Rav Moshe zt”l explains that the generation of the Churban were lax in instituting safeguards from sin; the polar opposite of the zehirus and vigilance demonstrated by Moshe Rabbeinu in our parashah. Tragically, by placing too much faith in their ability to resist temptation, they neglected to set up adequate protections against transgressions that they eventually succumbed to. Ultimately, this led to the destruction of the Batei Mikdash, that the Midrash says our pasuk is alluding to. One must be careful to never ‘let the guard down’ as these gedarim are a primary component of Avodas Hashem. Through proper zerizus and zehirus, we will bez”H be zocheh to the rebuilding of the Bais HaMikdash speedily in our days.
