Vayakhel/Pikudei #2- Generous Heart?

In this week's Parsha, (Chapter 35, pasuk 5) Moshe says to the entire Bnie Yisroel קְח֨וּ מֵֽאִתְּכֶ֤ם תְּרוּמָה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה כֹּ֚ל נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ יְבִיאֶ֕הָ אֵ֖ת תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֽשֶׁת

"'Take from yourselves an offering for the Lord; every generous hearted person shall bring it, [namely] the Lord's offering: gold, silver, and copper"

Rashi brings a question: what does Moshe mean by "every generous hearted person"? Can you only bring these materials if you belong in the 'category' of "generous hearted"?

Rashi brings an answer that the person who brings these materials is said to be a נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ because it is his heart in the first place that brought him to be a generous person and bring the materials. what is another reason that a person who brings these materials is called a נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ?

Vayakhel Pikudei #1- What's a mishkan

In this weeks parsha, Vayakhkel-Pekude, in chapter 35 ה׳ commands benei Yisrael to start building the mishcan- the tabernacle. The term "mishcan" seems to not be the full name for the tabernacle. The full name is "Mishcan Haeydut", the tabernacle of testimony. What does this mean? Usually a testimony refers to a specific event, what event is this? 

Rashi believe that this testimony refers to ה׳ forgiving Benei Yisrael for their sins of the חטא העגל. The fact that Hashem was present at the time of the building of the Mishcan shows that He excused their sins

Ki Tisa #4- Fiery Coin

Question: In  Passuk 13 perek 30 why does Hashem say  "fiery coin",  why is the coin fiery?

Answer:  Rashi says that Hahsem made the coin a fiery coin because he wanted tp show the good and bad aspects of money.  He used fire because fire can be both help you or destroy something. Just like money,  money can bring friends or family together but it can also destroy a relationship. the fire was Hashem showing Beni Yisroel to use money wisely.      

Ki Tisa #3- Bad thing?

In Shemot perek lamed gimmel passuk daled it says ״וישמע העם את הדבר הרע הזה״. What was the ״דבר הרע״? Rashi says it was that HaShems shechinah would not rest among them and go with them. What else could it have been? 

Ki Tisa #2- חטא העגל- how bad was it?

The Daat Zekenim on 32:1 argues that Bnei Yisroel asked for a replacement for Moshe- not a replacement for God. He proves this quoting a part of 32:1 that says, "כִּי־זֶ֣ה ׀ מֹשֶׁ֣ה הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶֽעֱלָ֙נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְנוּ מֶה־הָ֥יָה לֽוֹ" This means in English, "for that man Moses, who brought us from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has happened to him." 

This idea is so different from how we are usually taught about חטא העגל. What other ways do Mefarshim understand the narrative of חטא העגל?

Some ideas are:

- Why exactly did Bnei Yisroel make the idol? 

- Did Bnei Yisroel intend for it to be an idol?

- What did Bnei Yisroel think happened to Hashem? Did they intend to replace Hashem

- What Bnei Yisroel think happened to Moshe?

- Why did Aharon go along with it?

- Why a calf of all animals?

- Why does the pasuk say כִּי־זֶ֣ה ׀ מֹשֶׁ֣ה? What do we learn from the זֶ֣ה? 

Ki Tisa #1- 1/2 shekel?

In this weeks parsha, parshat Ki- Tisa, Hashem tells Moshe to count Binay Yisroel by each individual donating half a shekel. Chazal ask, why a half shekel? how can this be a proper representation of someones neshama? They give the answer that the reason each person was responsible for a half a shekel is because no person is a complete entity on his own, but rather can only be a "whole thing” when united with another person. What is another reason why Binay Yisroel was commanded to give a half shekel?

Tetzaveh #3- Urim V'tumim?

It says in shemot perek 28 pasuk 30 "וְנָתַתָּ אֶל חשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט אֶת הָאוּרִים וְאֶת הַתֻּמִּים"

What were the Urim and Tumim that are reffered to in this weeks parsha? Chabad.org says they were the two inscriptions of the Divine name. What are other opinions on what they mean and how they worked?