VAYAKHEL:
Dvar Torah -
In reference to the donations of Terumah to the Mishkan, the Pasuk states :(35:21) "And all men whose hearts inspired them came, and all who possessed a generous spirit brought the Terumah of H-shem..."
The Chida explains that many times one can get inspired by a certain Mitzvah and feel incredibly driven to fulfill it to the nth degree, but if one does not grab on to it and constantly remind himself of the inspiration and act on it as often as possible, the inspiration is lost. Take the Mitzvah of Tzeddaka for example:
--Shlomo hears a Shiur about the merit and importance of giving generously to Tzedakka. He walks out of the Shul glowing with a fire of inspiration, just wishing he would bump in to one, or even a group, of needy Jews to whom he would happily give out hundereds of dollars. Not coming across anyone on the walk home, Shlomo goes to sleep, his mind still pumping with ideas of how he would give the most he could to as many people as possible. The next night, after a tiring day in which he put up with his boss, payed some bills,took his kids shopping for school supplies, and learned the Daf with his night-seder Chavrusa, he collapses on the couch, completely wiped out. Suddenly the bell rings, and his daughter calls out "Ta, there's a meshulach at the door for you!!" Without thinking about it for even a moment, Shlomo calls back "Tell him i'm sorry, but im extremely busy right now.. ask him if he could come back in about... a month or so." --
Had this collector come by the night before at this exact time, Shlomo would've jumped up with joy and ushered him in. He would've perhaps fed him dinner, packed him some food up for the road, and definitely would've sent him on his way with a hefty donation. Instead, after a draining day of spending, he is exhausted, and thus the inspiration he got from the Shiur is gone as quickly as it came.
There is even an explanation on the words "V'im Lo Achshav, Eimasai" in Pirkei Avos : "V'im Lo Achshav" - If one doesn't act at the time of inspiration, "Eimasai" - when will he ever? It won't hang around that long!
Says the Chida, the Jews in the desert had just sinned, and made a terrible, almost unforgivable mistake. Yet in the light of H-shem's unbelievable kindness, they were forgiven, even though they may not have deserved it. This humbled, awed and inspired them, leading to resolutions to give generously to the Mishkan in an great expression of thanks for the forgiveness they were granted. Because that inspiration was acted on in the next possible opportunity they had to express it, it was never lost: "And all men whose hearts inspired them came" - That same inspiration that they had after being forgiven drove them to show up - "and all who possessed a generous spirit brought the Terumah of H-shem..." - And because none of the inspiration was lost, each person gave as generously as he resolved to give in the beginning.
Story-
Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski felt uncomfortable by the frigid wind to the point where he had to leave his Succos meal and go inside. He rose from the table and profusely apologized to his guests for having to go indoors until conditions improved. Not two minutes had past when R' Chaim Ozer returned to the Succah with a smile on his face. He announced "I may be exempt from the Mitzva of Succa, but i am am still obligated in Hachnasas Orchim!"
Dvar Torah -
In reference to the donations of Terumah to the Mishkan, the Pasuk states :(35:21) "And all men whose hearts inspired them came, and all who possessed a generous spirit brought the Terumah of H-shem..."
The Chida explains that many times one can get inspired by a certain Mitzvah and feel incredibly driven to fulfill it to the nth degree, but if one does not grab on to it and constantly remind himself of the inspiration and act on it as often as possible, the inspiration is lost. Take the Mitzvah of Tzeddaka for example:
--Shlomo hears a Shiur about the merit and importance of giving generously to Tzedakka. He walks out of the Shul glowing with a fire of inspiration, just wishing he would bump in to one, or even a group, of needy Jews to whom he would happily give out hundereds of dollars. Not coming across anyone on the walk home, Shlomo goes to sleep, his mind still pumping with ideas of how he would give the most he could to as many people as possible. The next night, after a tiring day in which he put up with his boss, payed some bills,took his kids shopping for school supplies, and learned the Daf with his night-seder Chavrusa, he collapses on the couch, completely wiped out. Suddenly the bell rings, and his daughter calls out "Ta, there's a meshulach at the door for you!!" Without thinking about it for even a moment, Shlomo calls back "Tell him i'm sorry, but im extremely busy right now.. ask him if he could come back in about... a month or so." --
Had this collector come by the night before at this exact time, Shlomo would've jumped up with joy and ushered him in. He would've perhaps fed him dinner, packed him some food up for the road, and definitely would've sent him on his way with a hefty donation. Instead, after a draining day of spending, he is exhausted, and thus the inspiration he got from the Shiur is gone as quickly as it came.
There is even an explanation on the words "V'im Lo Achshav, Eimasai" in Pirkei Avos : "V'im Lo Achshav" - If one doesn't act at the time of inspiration, "Eimasai" - when will he ever? It won't hang around that long!
Says the Chida, the Jews in the desert had just sinned, and made a terrible, almost unforgivable mistake. Yet in the light of H-shem's unbelievable kindness, they were forgiven, even though they may not have deserved it. This humbled, awed and inspired them, leading to resolutions to give generously to the Mishkan in an great expression of thanks for the forgiveness they were granted. Because that inspiration was acted on in the next possible opportunity they had to express it, it was never lost: "And all men whose hearts inspired them came" - That same inspiration that they had after being forgiven drove them to show up - "and all who possessed a generous spirit brought the Terumah of H-shem..." - And because none of the inspiration was lost, each person gave as generously as he resolved to give in the beginning.
Story-
Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski felt uncomfortable by the frigid wind to the point where he had to leave his Succos meal and go inside. He rose from the table and profusely apologized to his guests for having to go indoors until conditions improved. Not two minutes had past when R' Chaim Ozer returned to the Succah with a smile on his face. He announced "I may be exempt from the Mitzva of Succa, but i am am still obligated in Hachnasas Orchim!"