Donations for the Tabernacle

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Giving from the Heart
TANAKH
The construction of the Tabernacle was funded by voluntary donations, emphasizing the importance of giving from the heart. The book of Exodus describes how the people of Israel were commanded to bring offerings of gold, silver, and copper for the Tabernacle, but only from those whose hearts were moved to give.
Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart is so moved. And these are the gifts that you shall accept from them: gold, silver, and copper;
Exodus 25:2-3
The Women Behind the Tabernacle
COMMENTARY
The Israelite women played a crucial and divinely acknowledged role in the creation of the Tabernacle, showcasing their resourcefulness and dedication. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his Haggadah commentary, highlights the significant contributions of Israelite women, particularly their bronze mirrors, in the creation of the Tabernacle.
“AND HE SAW OUR OPPRESSION” – THE SEPARATION OF HUSBAND FROM WIFE
In the previous verse, this “affliction” was interpreted as the burden of hard labor. Here, therefore, another kind of suffering must be referred to. We are commanded on Yom Kippur to “afflict ourselves,” and the sages interpreted this phrase to mean, among other things, that sexual relations are forbidden on this day (Yoma 77a). The Talmud derives this understanding from Laban’s warning to Jacob not to “afflict my daughters” (Gen…
The Jonathan Sacks Haggadah, Magid, First Fruits Declaration 14:1
Accounting for the Tabernacle's Silver
TALMUD
The detailed accounting of the silver collected for the Tabernacle addresses a discrepancy that puzzled many. Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai explains that the maneh of the Sanctuary was double the value of a standard maneh, resolving the apparent discrepancy.
Additionally, Kontrokos asked Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai: With regard to the collection of silver by Moses for the Tabernacle, you find that the total amount is 201 talents and eleven maneh, as it is written that they amassed: “A beka a head, that is, half a shekel, of the shekel of the Sanctuary…for 603,550 men” (Exodus 38:26), which totals 301,775 shekels. This sum equals 201 talents and eleven maneh, as each talent contains 1,500 shekels, or sixty maneh, and each maneh contains twenty-five shekels…
Bekhorot 5a:10-12
The Symbolism of the Tabernacle
JEWISH THOUGHT
The detailed instructions for the Tabernacle are rich with symbolic and spiritual meanings, drawing parallels to the creation of the universe and the role of the Torah. Rabbi Isaac Arama’s medieval work, Akeidat Yitzchak, delves into the intricate relationship between divine creation and human contribution through the symbolism of the Tabernacle and its materials.
Meanings of some of the detailed instructions. 1) Since the tabernacle was built mostly from voluntary contributions, this parallels the act of kindness and generosity that the universe was created with by G-d. olam chessed yibaneh, the world is built by kindness. (Psalms 89,3) There were no preconditions which had necessitated that the universe come into existence. 2) Just as the tabernacle contained thirteen materials, so the universe consists of nine planets and four basic elements. (Actually fifteen materials are mentioned…
Akeidat Yitzchak 48:1:6
The Punishment of the Princes
COMMENTARY
The tribal princes were punished for their tardiness in contributing to the Tabernacle, as indicated by the omission of the letter י (yod) in their title in the Torah. The 18th-century Moroccan Kabbalist and Talmudist, Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, offers a profound commentary on the order of contributions for the Tabernacle in Exodus 25:7.
אבני שהם ואבני מלאים, onyx stones, and stones to be set, etc. Why were these items mentioned only after the other eleven types of materials? They should have been listed even ahead of gold and silver seeing they are of superior value! Perhaps the reason is that the princes who contributed these stones did so only after the people had contributed all their donations. We are told in Bamidbar Rabbah 12,16 that G'd was so displeased with the tardiness of the princes in bringing their donations that the Torah does not even spell the word…
Or HaChaim on Exodus 25:7:1
Finding Goodness in Every Jew
CHASIDUT
Moses' ability to find and rouse the good in every Jew, even after the sin of the golden calf, was channeled into the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) as a rectification for their sin. Reb Noson, the primary disciple of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, explores the spiritual significance of the Mishkan and Moses' role in seeing the good in every Jew.
CONSTRUCTING A MISHKAN
Reb Noson concludes his explanation of Moshe’s ability to find good even in the least worthy Jew, and how Moshe then used those good points to construct the Mishkan as a tikkun for their sin with the golden calf.

And so HaShem became favorably disposed towards Moshe as a result of his finding good in every Jew even after the incident of the golden calf. For Moshe was the embodiment of good, as expressed in the verse “She saw that he was good…
Likutei Halakhot, Orach Chaim, Laws of Morning Conduct 1:4:1
Atonement Through Gold
KABBALAH
The gold used for the Tabernacle served as atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf, suggesting a divine preordination to counteract the sin. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, explores the spiritual significance of the gold used in the Tabernacle, contrasting it with the gold used for the Golden Calf.
The same balancing of accounts is indicated in the words here, “All the gold ready-made (he’asui) for the work”. What signifies the attribute “ready-made”? It signifies that God foresaw that the Israelites would give up their gold for the making of the Golden Calf, and so made them first give up their gold for the erection of the Tabernacle so as to make good the offering of the other gold. For had the Israelites still possessed all their gold at the time they made the Golden Calf, they would hardly have had to “break off the golden rings which were in their ears” (Ex. 32, 3)…
Zohar, Pekudei 11:68
Transparency in Leadership
MIDRASH
Moses' meticulous accounting for the donations to the Tabernacle addresses the people's suspicions and ensures their trust. The medieval midrash Shemot Rabbah, a medieval midrashic work on the book of Exodus, recounts how Moses provided a detailed reckoning of the expenditures for the Tabernacle.
“The Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were reckoned at the directive of Moses” – everything that they were doing, they were doing at the directive of Moses, as it is stated: “As they were reckoned at the directive of Moses.” And everything that Moses would do, he would do by means of others, as it is stated: “The service of the Levites was by means of Itamar, son of Aaron the priest.” He did it only in this way: When the labor of the Sanctuary was completed, he said to them: ‘Come and I will make an accounting before you…
Shemot Rabbah 51:6
When Generosity Overflows
TALMUD
The people of Israel were so generous in their donations for the Tabernacle that Moses had to tell them to stop. The Babylonian Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism, discusses this event from Exodus 36:6 to derive important legal and ethical teachings.
GEMARA: With regard to the main issue, the Gemara asks: After all, throwing is a subcategory of carrying out. Where is the primary category of prohibited labor of carrying out itself written in the Torah? Isn’t it necessary to clarify the primary category before discussing the subcategory? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: As the verse said: “And Moses commanded, and they passed a proclamation throughout the camp saying: Neither man nor woman should perform any more work to contribute to the Sanctuary; and the people stopped bringing” (Exodus 36:6)…
Shabbat 96b:1
Donations and the Concept of Work
HALAKHAH
The collection of donations for the Mishkan (Tabernacle) is considered a melakha (work), which helps us understand the transition from private to public domain and the significance of Moses' command to cease further contributions. Peninei Halakhah, in his contemporary presentation of Jewish law, explores the concept of melakha in the context of Sabbath laws, using the historical construction of the Mishkan as a key reference.
We find in the Torah that the donations for the Mishkan were collected from each individual’s private domain (reshut ha-yaḥid) and were brought to the public domain (reshut ha-rabim) where the Mishkan was built. This was considered a melakha, as the verse states explicitly: “Moshe then ordered that the proclamation be made throughout the encampment: ‘Let no man or woman make further effort (melakha) on behalf of the donations for the sanctuary!’ And the people stopped bringing” (Shemot 36:6).
Peninei Halakhah, Shabbat 21:1:5
The Half-Shekel Donation
COMMENTARY
The custom of donating the half-shekel and reading 'Parshat Shekalim' on the first Sabbath of the month of Adar is a unique and enduring practice rooted in ancient Jewish tradition. Joshua Kulp's contemporary explanation of the Mishnah, the first codification of Jewish law from the early third-century land of Israel, provides insight into the timing and ritual of this practice, making it accessible for modern readers.
According to the Mishnah, they began to remind people to donate the half-shekel in the beginning of the month of Adar. This is where the custom, observed to this day, developed to read “Parshat Shekalim”, the above mentioned passage in Exodus, on the first Shabbat of Adar of every year.
English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim, Introduction 4
The Fiery Half-Shekel
TARGUM
The valuation for the donations to the Tabernacle was shown to Moses on the mountain as a coin of fire, specifying the exact amount each person should give—a half shekel of the coin of the sanctuary. The Targum Jonathan, an Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Torah, provides this vivid imagery and specific instruction regarding the half-shekel tax for the Tabernacle.
This valuation was shown to Mosheh in the mountain as with a denarius of fire, and thus spake He to him: So shall every one who passeth to the numberment give a half shekel of the coin of the sanctuary: (a half shekel is twenty manin:) the half shekel is to be the separation before the Lord.
Targum Jonathan on Exodus 30:13
The Lofty Nature of the Ark
COMMENTARY
Despite Betzalel constructing the Tabernacle first, the Torah mentions the Ark first due to its lofty nature. Rabbeinu Bachya, a 13th-century Spanish commentator, explains the sequence and rationale behind the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings.
ואת המשכן תעשה עשר יריעות, “you shall construct the Tabernacle out of ten curtains, etc.” The word משכן is spelled with the letter ה in front, indicating that it was a building we had heard about previously. This shows that the מקדש mentioned in 25,8 and the משכן mentioned here are one and the same thing. By rights the details of the construction of the Tabernacle should have preceded that of its furnishings; however, due to the lofty nature of the Ark the Torah decided to first mention its construction, and…
Rabbeinu Bahya, Shemot 26:1:1

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