Why was the Mishkan built through voluntary donations rather than taxes? The shiur develops the principle that true divine service requires giving, not taking, since we serve Hashem (ה׳) by emulating His giving nature. This reframes tefillah from asking for personal needs to declaring 'I am yours' - making prayer itself an act of self-giving.
The shiur begins with a fundamental question about the construction of the Mishkan: why was it built entirely through voluntary donations, except for the silver which came from the obligatory Machatzis Hashekel tax? This structural choice reveals a profound theological principle about the nature of divine service. The answer lies in understanding that Hashem (ה׳) chose the Jewish people specifically because they are 'gomlei chasadim' - people who give rather than take. This choice reflects the very foundation of creation itself: Hashem created the world as an act of pure giving, wanting to bestow good upon others. Therefore, the way humans can come closest to Hashem is by emulating His giving nature.
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Parshas Shekalim, Mishkan construction
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Why does the Gemara say Torah learned shelo lishmah becomes 'zor' - does this mean forgotten or estranged? The shiur argues that zor means estranged, not forgotten, because Torah creates profound self-awareness that either connects you to Hashem (when learned lishmah) or separates you from Him (when learned for personal aggrandizement). This explains why Keser Torah is uniquely personal - every individual can achieve their own crown through the transformative experience of learning.
Why does the Torah use the double expression 'emor v'amarta' when commanding Moshe to speak to the Kohanim? The shiur develops that true communication means discovering something unique about the person you're addressing that empowers them. This transforms how we deliver difficult messages - even restrictions must make people feel elevated rather than limited.
