שמות לו,ז: וְהַמְלָאכָה הָיְתָה דַיָם לְכָל־הַמְלָאכָה לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתָהּ וְהוֹתֵר
"Da'yom ...... voho'seir" - Sufficient ...... and extra: This verse seems to contradict itself. If it was exactly sufficient, then it would not be extra; if there was extra then it wasn’t exactly sufficient. What did they do with the extra? How does “extra” define that there is a sufficient amount.
Medrash Hagadol says that HaShem told Moshe to use it for a tent of study for himself. ("Voho'seir" has the letters of "V'Torah.")
The Medrash says that the Bnei Yisrael brought exactly the amount needed, but a blessing went into the materials and there was extra.
A Chasidic approach: There was enough material, "v'hoseir," and this great emotion of donating generously, remained with them always. (Imrei Noam)
B'derech drush: The two batei Mikdashim were destroyed, but the Mishkan was "vo'ho'seir," and "left over," it remains intact.
The Sichos Tzadikim says that since the purpose of creating the Mishkan was to have a center for the Divine Presence to rest, it would require that the donations and building of the Mishkan involve no haughtiness. Arrogance pushes away the Divine Presence. If the materials that were brought would amount to exactly that which was needed, each donor would feel that without his donation the Mishkan would be incomplete, no matter how large or small the donation was. This emotion negates the sanctity of the Mishkan. Only because it was known that there was extra was it sufficient. Now each donor wasn't sure if his materials were used. This kept the donors from feeling that they were indispensable in the creation the Sanctuary.
Baal haTurim: The word דים occurs two other times in Tanach in regards to the downfall of Edom. That is whatever the descendants of Esav do and build will not suffice since it will be destroyed. Whereas, HaShem sends a blessing on all that which the Jews build. Thus, the work they did was sufficient for them. The word הותר occurs two other times in Tanach: one in Elisha’s promise of Divine blessing to his students; and the promise to be satiated when eating the Terumah. All three places indicate sufficiency and blessing are noted by the concept of having leftover.
The Ohr Hachaim Hakodesh says that miraculously the extra condensed into the basic amounts that were needed and nothing was left over. The Jews actually brought extra materials that exceeded the original needs of the Mishkan. The people responded enthusiastically and donated more than needed. If some of the donations had gone unused, some people would have been disappointed, attributing the non-use to their personal unworthiness. Therefore, HaShem made a miracle that even the “extra” also became needed. The Torah alludes to this miracle that though it was “vehoteir” (more than enough) yet “dayam” (it was sufficient) all the donations were utilized to do the needed construction.
This is an important lesson for all. One should strive to make everyone and their efforts be needed. Many stories are told about a Rabbi that listened to an evidently easy question but requested time to review the important question being asked. Another example is when one hears a Dvar Torah that one already recognizes one should still listen with attention (maybe one would even hear one line that would enlighten an issue).
In Pirkei Avos (Perek 5, Mishnah 7) in listing the seven attributes of a Chachum including one that the Chachum on a matter that he did not hear that that he says “I did not hear”. What is so great? The Golam (an unrefined person) says the opposite. What does a Golam say? Obviously Chaza”l in this collection of ethical guidelines is not telling us that the Golam lies and says that that he hear what he did not hear since that is a well-known sin. Rather, the Golam will say when he has already heard something will be insensitive to another and tell the other person that he has already heard that matter. A Chachum is refined to listen completely to what another says even if already heard in order to not make the other person feel bad plus he might heard a positive thought.
