Riddles of the Week

Riddles of the Week

1. This week’s parsha begins with Moshe making an accounting of the gold, silver, and copper that were donated for the Mishkan (38:24-31). Curiously, although he detailed what the silver and copper were used for, he did not mention what was done with the gold. Why didn’t Moshe also account for the gold that was contributed?
2. How many Mishkan’s were built in Parshas Vayakhel? If the answer is more than one, what was the point?
3. In reference to the making of the Tzitz [head-plate] of the Kohen Gadol, the Torah states (39:30) that “they wrote on it ‘Holy to Hashem.’” Why was it necessary for multiple people to inscribe a mere two words on the Tzitz?
4. In this week’s parsha, Moshe makes an accounting of the materials received for the Mishkan. When the pasuk talks about the gold donated, it refers to it as “the gold of waving” (זהב התנופה). Why is the gold referred to as such? The Chizkuni explains, they would wave it around when giving it to the treasurer, therefore, it was referred to as the “gold of waving”. The Ramban (35:24) explains, that it wasn’t for nothing that they would wave it. He explains, either the one giving it would wave it to show its importance, or the treasure who was accepting it would wave it, להראתו לשבח המביא על נדבתו – “to show praise, to the one who was donating it”.

The Rema writes (Hilchos Tzedokah 249:13): “A person shouldn’t take pride in tzedokah that he gives, if one does, not only does he not receive reward, he will even get punished for it”. If so, what is peshat in the Ramban who says, that either the one giving it would wave it around to show its importance, or that the treasurer would wave the money, to give praise to the one who brought it?