From the “wine of Torah” in Rashi’s commentary:
We discussed Rashi’s nuanced wording: “All the weights of the contributions to the Mishkan are enumerated,” and Moshe enumerated the weight. The worth of the gold, silver, and copper was irrelevant; only the weight mattered.
The difference between weight and worth is as follows: Weight only ascertains the quantity and mass of a material, whereas an item’s worth depends on its value and quality — the “tzurah.”
The parallel in a person’s divine service: A Jew makes a Mishkan for Hashem by fulfilling mitzvos and engaging in Jewish activities, in general. There are two elements: the action itself — the “weight” — and the intent of the mitzvah — the “worth,” the substance, and the tzurah of the action.
One might wonder: If a Jew “donates” only a physical action to Hashem without infusing it with deeper intent, can we imagine this act builds a Mishkan for Hashem?
The Torah addresses this question: The weights of the donation to the Mishkan were “counted by the word of Moshe.”Moshe Rabbeinu invested himself in and counted the weights the Jews donated, rendering them suitable for use in Hashem’s Mishkan.
In fact, when a Jew contributes a coin, it is transformed into “a coin of fire” — permeated with the fire of the soul. The Jew thereby builds his (personal) Mishkan perfectly.
This way, we hasten — and merit — the building of the universal Beis Hamikdash — the third one. May this happen speedily in our days, in reality.
Based on talks delivered on Shabbos parshas Pekudei, 5725 (1965)
