In this week's parsha we read about the contributions to the mishkan (tabernacle) and its construction. The Parsha starts by commanding the Jewish People to take contributions, from "all of those that have a generous heart take My contribution". Why does the verse specify those that have a generous heart? Furthermore, the verse starts by saying the contribution (from the Jewish People) is for Hashem but at the end of the verse it refers to the contribution as being the contribution of Hashem as if to say that Hashem "made" the contribution.

The commentators explain that the princes of each tribe did not make the first donations, but waited for the masses to make contributions with the intent to cover whatever was needed at the end. The Jewish People though, were so enthusiastic to donate that there was nothing left for the princes to cover. The only thing left was a set of precious stones needed for the breastplate of the High Priest. These stones were difficult to come by and Hashem provided them for the princes by miraculous means.

This can explain the questions in the verse. The people who are "generous of heart", they only have the heart to give but they don't have the means to give, Hashem will provide them. He will make the donation on their behalf. Many times we have the desire and heart to do good or to become better people, sometimes we stop wanting because we feel that we are hopeless but we can learn from the Torah that if we truly desire we will be granted with Divine Assistance to fulfill our good desires. Furthermore our sages teach us that when a Jewish person has the desire to do good even if for some reason they are prevented from actually fulfilling their will, nevertheless Hashem considers it as if they have actually performed that which they desired.

We should never give up on our desires to do good and improve.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath