Vayakhel

This Parsha repeats the command of taking materials for the Mishkan, and also states the actual construction of the Mishkan. When the Torah describes the bringing of materials, first it states that the men and women brought their contributions, and only afterwards mentions the leaders, the nesi’im. The Torah does not write the word nesi’im as “והנשאים” rather, “והנשאם” and leaves out the letter “יוד.” We know that letters are important and are not usually left out – as we find by Sarah Imeinu. Sarah’s name was originally “שרי” and it was changed to “שרה.” The letter יו”ד went to Hashem and said, “what will be with me?” Hashem replied, “you will be added to the name “הושע” to become “יהושע.” Since each and every letter is important, why then was the letter יו”ד left out of the word והנשאם?

Rashi writes in the name of Rebi Nosson that Hashem took out the letter יו”ד because of the nesi’im’s delay. The nesi’im did not donate to the Mishkan right away, instead they declared, “we’ll wait for Bnei Yisrael to bring their contributions and then we will donate the rest.” Bnei Yisrael came and brought everything that was necessary, plus more, and there was no need for anything else to be brought. The nesi’im noticed this and said, “what will we bring?” Then they brought the stones for the Choshen and Eifod. They learned their lesson to not procrastinate bringing contributions, therefore by the Chanukas HaMizbeiyach they made sure to bring the korbanos immediately.

There is a striking question, wasn’t it very generous of the nesi’im to take full responsibility to offer to bring whatever would be needed? They were willing to donate anything, where then lies their fault that the Torah takes out a יו”ד from their title?

R’ Chaim Shmuelevitz answers that we find by the mitzvah of loving Hashem, letting oneself be killed for Hashem, that it should be done without much thought and contemplation, for then one will come up with excuses why not to do it. The same is true by the nesi’im. If they had had the proper ahavas Hashem they would have jumped to contribute the first. So too, we can derive from here that when one has an opportunity to do a mitzva, one should do so immediately, without procrastination or hesitation.

May we instill in ourselves ahavas Hashem and let it cause us to fulfill mitzvos immediately.