Why The Men’s Donations Were Higher Than The Women’s The pasuk describes (Vayakhel 35:22) the rush of people bringing their donations to Mishkan as, “Vayavou HaAnashim Al HaNashim”. This literally means above the women, but Rashi explains this to mean together with them. If so why does the Torah use this awkward language instead of saying together with them?
The Shanayim Mikra brings from Rav Tzvi Hirsch Chossid a talmid of the ViIna Gaon as follows. The gemara (Brachos 34b) tells us that the level of a Ba’al Tshuvah is even higher than a Tzaddik Gamur. We know that the women did not participate in the Chait HaEigel and did not give over their jewelry for the cause. The building of the Mishkan and the donations made were a Kapara for the Eigel. Therefore it was the men who were doing tshuvah with their donations unlike the women who already proved to be righteous. As Baalei Tshuva the men’s donations were viewed as being higher than the women’s. This is hinted at with the word “Al”.
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A Building Duo Of The Biggest & The Simplest “There were two main contractors working on the mishkan together,” says Rav Shimon Schwab. “The first was the Betzalel. He was a child prodigy,who Moshe admitted defeat to, and acknowledged the he was privy to special secrets of the Heavenly Court. He also came from the finest lineage in Klal Yisrael being from the Shevet of Yehuda, the grandson of Chur, who was a leader of Bnei Yisrael, who died Al Kiddush Hashem at the hands of the mob by Chait HaEigel, and the great grandson of Kalev ben Yefuneh.
His second in command was Oholiav ben Achisamach, a total unknown. The Torah never mentions any great details about him or his family. In fact, he came from Shevet Dan, from the Pechusim of the Shevatim. Apparently,” says Rav Schwab,” he was a simple Yid, a Yarei Shamayim, and was a straight and thoughtful person.
Hashem made this odd team to teach us that while the Bais HaMikdash is made by a great man with a fine Yichus, it is also made by a simple Jew who is a Tzaddik in Hashem’s eyes. The reason is that we must understand that Hashra’as HaShechina is for every single Jew to be together with Hashem.”
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A Mishkan With a Broken Heart The pasuk (36:7) says that after all the donations were made to the Mishkan they had enough (Dayam). At the end of this pasuk it says, “V’Hoseir,” and there was even more than they needed. So which is it; was it exactly enough or did they have extra?
The Iturei Torah brings from Sichos Tzadikim that if there were exactly enough and no more, each person would become full of pride thinking that his contribution to the Mishkan made it all possible. “Without me there would be no Mishkan.” This would make the Mishkan a place where Hashem’s Shechina would definitely not rest, since Hashem does not dwell among the haughty.
However, if there was more than enough materials and some were left out of the actual building then each person would be brokenhearted thinking that his contribution may have been left out, and he has no share of the Mishkan. This made for the ideal sanctuary for Hashem’s Shechina, as it always finds rest among the broken hearted.
Therefore, the pasuk tells us that the amount of materials donated was exactly enough to build a Mishkan for the Shechina. Why? Because there was excess.
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Fire Comes After The First Shabbos “Lo Sivaaru Eish Bichol Moshvoseichem BiYom HaShabos,” (Vayakhel 35:3). The only Milacha of Shabbos singled out in the Torah is lighting a fire. Why?
Rav Yehonoson Eibshitz explains that in the first Luchos it says that we rest from work on Shabbos because Hashem rested after six days of creation. On Shabbos, we refrain from performing anything pertaining to those first six days. However, fire was created on Motza’ei Shabbos. Therefore, we may think it stands outside the prohibition of doing Milacha, so the Torah must tell us that even lighting a fire is assur on Shabbos.
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There Comes A Point When Enough Is Enough After the Bnei Yisrael brought their generous donations to the builders of the Mishkan, they came to Moshe and told him (Vayakhel 36:5), “Marbim Ha’am L’Havi Midei HaAvodah LaMilacha; The deluge of donations is more than they need for the mishkan.” Moshe promptly issued an order to Bnei Yisrael to stop bringing. Rav Yehoshua Rokeach, the second Belzer Rebbe asks, “Why all the nervousness about the overflow of donations? If people wanted to give, would it not be a good idea to accept it, and keep it in the coffers for future use?” He answers that a Ba’al Tshuva cannot go overboard. Tshuva must be done completely, but not more than is needed, or else it will have a negative impact on the person going forward. The Mishkan was a kapara for the Chait HaEigel through Bnei Yisrael’s donations. When Bnei Yisrael brought all that needed to be brought, the gaba’im got nervous when they saw the pace maintaining its frenzy. They immediately notified Moshe, who put an abrupt end to it, making sure things did not get out of hand and keeping things in perspective.

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