Vayakhel
The passuk states “ויבאו כל איש אשר נשאו לבו וכל אשר נדבה רוחו אתו הביאו את תרומת ה’.” Who are the נשאו לבו and נדבה רוחו?
Onkelos translates נשאו לבו as “his heart had interest.” The Nefesh HaGer says, this is the same way that Onkelos translates נדיב לבו. Rashi explains the contribution of the heart is one whose heart pledges to contribute. The נשאו לבו are those who pledged and brought their contributions for the Mishkon. Onkelos translates the next words נדבה רוחו as “his spirit was completed with him.” Similarly it states about Betzalel, “וימלא אתו רוח אלקים בחכמה בתבונה ובדעת ובכל מלאכה” which Onkelos translates as “and He completed with him a spirit of prophecy from before Hashem with smartness, wisdom, and knowledge and with all work.” What does it mean “completed with him?” The Nefesh HaGer explains, Onkelos translates the lashon מלא as שלם, complete, which reflects complete attributes of perfection and excellence. The people who did the work of building the Mishkon and its vessels were fully equipped to do their work.
The Midrash brings, it does not state in Parshas Ki Sisa קראתי בשם בצלאל, rather ראה קראתי בשם בצלאל. When Moshe ascended to the heavens, Hashem showed him all the vessels of the Mishkon and said, “This is how you shall make the Mishkon and all its vessels.” When it was time for Moshe to descend he thought he would be the one to build it. Hashem called to him and said, “Moshe, I made you king, and it is not fitting for a king to do this. Rather, you decree and others will do it.” The Nefesh HaGer explains Moshe thought he was complete and he would be the one to build the Mishkon and its vessels. Hashem said, “You are incomplete alone, rather decree for others to come build it. Betzalel will complete it with you. Don’t think he is a simpleton and he will simply follow your commands. Rather, I have completed him with smartness, wisdom, knowledge, with the ability to build and with prophecy to have in mind holy thoughts of putting together Sheimos of Hashem.” Moshe, Betzalel, Ahaliuv, and all the wise hearted complimented and completed each other to build the Mishkon and its vessels. Onkelos who translates as “completed with him” expresses this idea.
The Nefesh HaGer says the words נדבה רוחו, “whose spirit was completed with him” continue with the words “הביאו…, they brought contributions for the work of the Mishkon.” This teaches that those who labored with building the Mishkon also contributed for its building.
The Ramban explains נשאו לבו and נדבה רוחו differently. נדבה רוחו refer to those who contributed terumos for the Mishkon. נשאו לבו refer to people who stepped forward to do the labor for building the Mishkon. In Mitzrayim, Bnei Yisrael did back breaking labor, with lime and stones. They did not study or practice doing work with gold, silver, precious stones, or wood work. It was a wondrous thing that there were people who were able to work with gold, silver, stone, and wood, who could formulize in their mind what to do, and could embroider and weave. Even people who study from a wise and talented person won’t become an expert in all the different areas of work. Also, people who dealt with mud and cement are not normally able to do fine meticulous work. Although they did not learn any of these crafts from anyone they found in themselves naturally the knowledge and ability to do it. They raised up their hearts in the ways of Hashem to come forward to Moshe saying “I will do all that my master commands.” This wondrous thing is hinted in the passuk which states, Moshe tells Yisrael, “ראו, see” and pay attention to this wondrous thing and know that Hashem did this in order to build the Mishkon. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz said, so too any person who will desire and commit to do something in avodas Hashem and trusts in Hashem, Hashem will help him accomplish that goal.
May Hashem help us raise up our hearts to strive for new levels and succeed in reaching them.
