Of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the Sanctuary (Ex. 38:27)
The Hebrew root of the word for socket, "eden," has two meanings: 1) a base or doorsill, and 2) lord and master. Both meanings, however, are interconnected. This is alluded to in Rabbi Meir's statement in the Zohar: "He who is small is great; he who is great is small." A person who is as humble as a "doorsill" is truly noble, while one who lords himself over others and feels superior is truly lowly. (Peninei HaTorah)
Reprinted from the Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei 5761/2001 edition of L’Chaim Weekly.