Long Island Torah Network
  • Home
  • Locations
    • East Northport
    • Huntington
    • Merrick
  • Programs
    • LITN Purim Celebration
    • Seder Box Event
    • Beis Medrash Night
    • Women's Programming
    • Remote Learning
    • Catalog >
      • Hebrew
      • Jewish Values
      • Holidays
      • Jewish Living
      • Jewish History
      • Text Study
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Mission
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Challah Bake at the Library
      • Dinner 2019
      • Huntington Torah Retreat
    • L.I.T.N. Video
  • Publications/Media
    • LITN Video
    • Audio Library >
      • Pathways Archives
      • Mishneh Berurah Archives
      • Torah Minute >
        • Vayakhel - Pekudei - But I have a good Reason!
        • Ki Sisa - Relationship With God - Look What I've Got!
        • Tetzaveh - Purim - Always With Gentleness
        • Mishpatim - Choosing Our Influencers
        • Beshalach - Mitzvos - Just How Priceless Are They?
        • Shemos - Mitzvos With Joy
        • Vayechi - Our Relationships with People - Our Relationship with G-D
        • Toldos - The Power Within Us
        • Chayei Sarah - Through Someone Else's Eyes
        • Vayeirah - Every Spiritual Success - A Priceless Treasure
        • Lech Lecha - Influenced By My Surroundings? Not Me!
        • Noach - The Two Deeds Look The Same, But Are They?
        • Sukkos - Key to Happiness
        • Vayeilech - Shabbos Shuva - One Small Step in Man's Eyes - One Giant Leap in Hashem's
        • Nitzavim - Rosh Hashana - My Relationship With Hashem
        • Devarim-Tisha B'Av - Dignity - Key To Growth
        • Matos-Masei Past Misdeeds - A Source of Encouragement?
        • Pinchas - Seeing is Believing
        • Chukas - Torah-A Gift for All of Us
        • Korach- Strength of Unity
        • Shlach- The Power of Speech
        • Naso - The Path to Internal Peace
        • Shavuos - Our Purpose - The World's Purpose
        • Balak - The Greatness of Torah Study
        • Korach- Capacity for Growth
        • Beha'aloscha - Mitzvos - The Greatest Gift and Opportunity
        • Naso -New Stage - New Opportunities
        • Tzav / Pesach - From Generation to Generation
        • Chayei Sarah - Kindness and Respect
        • Yom Kippur - Take the First Step to Greatness
        • Naso - Every Mitzvah is a Big Mitzvah
        • Yisro - Finding Happiness with what we Have
        • Vayechi - Seeking Advice
        • Bereishis - Greatness of Humanity
        • Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement- A Time to Thank
        • Vayeilech - Shabbos Shuva - The Impact on Others
        • Ki Savo - The Future of Judaism
        • Ki Savo - My Idea or Yours?
        • Ki Savo - Every Day a New Opportunity
        • Va'eschanan-Nachamu - Hashem is Always with Us
        • Tisha B'Av - A Day of Mourning, A Day of Hope
        • Matos-Masei- It's Not "Just Words"
        • Korach - The Power of Community
        • Bo - Appreciating Every Detail
        • Ki Seitzei - Working Together with Sensitivity
        • Pinchas - The Impact of an Experience
        • Tetzaveh - Purim - Seize the Moment
        • Torah Inspirations - Parshas B'Shalach
        • Nitzavim-Vayeilech - Change-We Could Do It
        • The Situation in Israel - How We Can Help
    • Text Library >
      • Snapshot >
        • Parshas Vayechi
        • Parshas Vayigash
        • Parshas Vayeishev
        • Parshas Vayishlach
        • Parshas Vayeitzei
        • Parshas Toldos
        • Parshas Chayei Sarah
        • Parshas Vayeirah
        • Parshas Lech Lecha
        • Parshas Noach
        • Parshas Ha'azinu
        • Parshas Vayeilech
        • Parshas Nitzavim
        • Parshas Ki Savo
        • Parshas Va'Eschanan
        • Parshas Devarim
        • Parshas Matos-Masei
        • Parshas Pinchas
        • Parshas Chukas
        • Parshas Korach
        • Parshas Shlach
        • Beha'aloscha
        • Parshas Naso
        • Parshas Behar
        • Parshas Behar-Bechukosai
        • Parshas Emor
        • Parshas Kedoshim
        • Parshas Acharei Mos
        • Achrei Mos-Kedoshim
        • Parshas Tazria-Metzorah
        • Parshas Shmini
        • Parshas Vayikra
        • Parshas Pekudei
        • Parshas Vayakhel
        • Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei
        • Parshas Ki Sisa
        • Parshas Tetzaveh
        • Parshas Terumah
        • Parshas Mishpatim
        • Parshas Yisro
        • Parshas Beshalach
        • Parshas Bo
        • Parshas Va'eirah
        • Parshas Shemos
        • Parshas Balak
        • Beha'aloscha
        • Parshas Vayeitzei
        • Parshas Vayechi
      • A Closer Look >
        • Beha'aloscha
        • Parshas Ki Savo
        • Parshas Tazria-Metzora
        • Parshas Vayikra CL
        • Parshas Vayakhel CL
        • Parshas Noach CL
        • Parshas Ki Sisa CL
        • Parshas Pekudei CL
        • Parshas Tetzaveh
        • Parshas Terumah
        • Parshas Mishpatim CL
        • Parshas Beshalach CL
        • Parshas Yisro CL
        • Parshas Vayechi CL
        • Parshas Vayigash CL
        • Parshas Shemos CL
        • Parshas Vayeisheiv CL
        • Parshas Vayeitzei CL
        • Parshas Vayishlach CL
        • Parshas Chayei Sarah CL
        • Parshas Toldos CL
        • Parshas Vayeirah CL
        • Parshas Korach
        • Parshas Yisro
        • Parshas B'shalach
        • Sh'lach
        • Haazinu
        • Beha'aloscha
        • Parshas Vayakhel
        • Parshas Shemos
        • Parshas Vayechi
        • Parshas Vayigash
        • Parshas Vayaishev
        • Vayishlach
        • Parshas Behar-Bechukosai
        • Parshas Emor
        • Achrei Mos-Kedoshim
        • Parshas Shmini
        • Parshas Vayeitzei
        • Parshas Noach
        • Thoughts and Perspectives on the Coronavirus situation
      • Month of Elul
      • Rosh Hashana - One By One
      • Relationships Seminar
      • Thoughts for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
      • Sukkos - Meanings, Observances and Traditions
      • Yom Kippur Overview
      • Chanukah - History, Meaning, and Observance >
        • Laws of Chanukah Candle Lighting
    • Seder Box Event
    • The Tenth of Teveth
    • Purim
    • Pesach - Passover
    • Shavuos
    • Three Weeks and Nine Days
    • Tisha B'Av
    • Trivia
  • Donate
  • Contact
    • Ask the Rabbi
Picture
Vayakhel

Text:

      The Jewish nation enthusiastically contributes materials for construction of the Mishkan.
​

“And the princes [of the twelve tribes] brought the onyx stones and the stones for the settings of the Ephod and the Choshen…”
                                                               [Exodus 35:27]

The princes said, “Let the public donate what they will, and we will make up the shortfall.” When the public completed all [that was necessary]… the princes said, “What is [left] for us to do?” [So] they brought the onyx stones….And because they were lazy at the outset, a letter was omitted from [the spelling of] their name [in the Torah scroll, in the above verse.]

                                                               [Midrash, cited by Rashi]

Question:

The princes should be given credit for their generosity! They intended to step forward and pick up the slack for the entire nation. Why are they instead accused of laziness?

Answer:

The princes believed their offer stemmed from generosity (and undoubtedly intended to make good on their promise.) But G-d, who sees the subconscious mind, testified that their underlying motivation was not absolutely pure. Pure generosity would have led the princes to contribute immediately. Their decision to wait was colored by an infinitesimal drop of laziness. In the end, the princes were left with little to contribute.

Message:

The princes were men of exemplary character, and believed their behavior reflected sincere generosity; in reality, their judgment was skewed by a thread of simple laziness. If these great individuals erred due to a subconscious bias, we are certainly susceptible to misjudgments based on our own hidden flaws. If we engage in honest introspection, we can trust that G-d will help us reach conclusions that are wise and authentic. 
 

​

​Click below to open a printable pdf

vayakhel_snapshot_and_closer_look_template_final.pdf
File Size: 917 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File