To make the Kiyor, Betzalel used the copper that came from the: מַרְ אֹת הַצֹבְאֹת mirrors of the legions (of women). What do mirrors have to do with legions? And when we left Mitzrayim it says: יָצְאוּ כָל צִבְאוֹת ה' יב מא all the legions of Hashem went out, and also: וַחֲמֻשִ ים עָלוּ בְנֵי יִשְ רָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם בשלח יג יח we went out armed! We left Mitzrayim to fight the Yetzer Hara! And the women are the source of our strength. Miriam was upset with Moshe when he kept away from his wife. She was the leader of the women who left Mitzrayim, and: בִזְכוּת נָשִ ים צְנוּעוֹת נִגְאַלוּ we were redeemed from Mitzrayim in the Zechus of the Tzniyus'dike women. What did the ladies do special? They got hold of these copper mirrors, in order to look beautiful for their husbands. **
And Moshe didn’t want to use them for this reason. (Rashi). Hashem said the opposite, they are super precious, because they were the cause of the purity of Klal Yisroel. They helped the most important Midda, i.e., being a Sameach B'chelko and not looking outside with envy and sins, Chas V'shalom. So they became the Kiyor which was a source of purity (for: קִ ידוּש יָ דַ יִ ם וְ רַ גְ לַ יִ ם washing hands and feet). ***
I always wondered why a Chashuva woman is called Eishes Chayil. “Chayal” means a soldier, and Chazal say that women do not go to war. And in Eishes Chayil it also says: וְשָלָל לֹא יֶחְסָר משלי לא יא there are lots of spoils of war, and: חָגְרָה בְעוֹז מָתְנֶיהָ שם פסוק יז she girds herself with strength, all: לְ שוֹנוֹת (terminologies) of warfare. We can suggest that בָטַח בָהּ לֵב בַעְלָהּ שם פסוק יא her husband (who is the warrior) relies on his wife. And a woman who has copper mirrors to help her husband in Inyanei Kedusha, is also herself (a backseat) warrior. ****
How important is the basic Gashmiyus’dik side of us in our war against the Yetzer Hara! Look how Hashem has a special: חַ בִ יבוּת affection for those mirrors, and they remain forever the source of Kedusha (for: קִ ידוּש יָ דַ יִ ם וְ רַ גְ לַ יִ ם washing hands and feet). Respect your Redifas HaKavod, a ball game, dressing up nicely, getting the best air conditioner, or taking a long break and “chilling” in all kinds or Gashmiyus’dike ways; if it helps you Shteig. *****
בִיטוּלָהּ זוֹהִי קִיוּמָה Rejuvenation is necessary for learning!
The concept of enjoying life (in the proper way) is Kodesh Kodoshim and of paramount importance!
