This week’s parsha could almost be mistaken for a mathematics lesson in school. It begins with calculations of all the money and materials that were donated by the people to make the Sanctuary. But if you look past all the sums and numbers, there is a deep message here that follows on from two extraordinary stories. One is told in last week’s parsha, the other the week before. Together, these teach us something deep about Jewish nature that is still true today.
The first incident is when G-d told Moshe to ask the people to contribute materials to the building of the Sanctuary. They brought gold, silver, and copper. They also brought wool, linen, animal skins, acacia wood, oil, spices, and incense. Some even gave precious stones for the High Priest’s breastplate. What was remarkable was how willing the people were to give. In fact, they brought so much that Moshe had to tell them to stop!
We often see the Israelites argue and complain, but here, we see a people with a deep wish to give.
In a previous parsha, we read a very different story. Moshe had been up on the mountain for a long time, and the people had become worried. Was he still alive? If not, how would they receive the Divine word telling them what to do and where to go? So, they asked Aharon to make them a golden calf to be an “oracle,” an object through which G-d could speak to them.
Aharon, according to many commentators, realized that he could not stop the people by simply refusing, so he tried to slow them down instead. He asked them to bring him their precious jewelry. According to the Midrash, he thought this would create arguments within families, and the project would be delayed.
Instead, immediately thereafter, without a pause, we read: “So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aharon.” (Exodus 32:3) Here, again, is the same generosity we saw with the Tabernacle.
These two projects could not be less alike. One, the Tabernacle, was holy. The other, the making of the Golden Calf, was close to creating an idol. Building the Tabernacle was a supreme mitzvah; making the calf was a terrible sin. Yet the people’s response was the same in both cases.
That is why the Sages said: “One cannot understand the nature of this people. If they are asked to give for a calf, they give. If they are asked to give for the Tabernacle, they give!”
The common factor was the people’s characteristic of generosity. Jews may not always make the right choices in what they give to, but they give.
RABBI JONATHAN SACKS
