Exodus 35:29 - Hearts moved to give willingly.

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Hebrew Text

כָּל־אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר נָדַב לִבָּם אֹתָם לְהָבִיא לְכָל־הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה הֵבִיאוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל נְדָבָה לַיהוָה׃

English Translation

The children of Yisra᾽el brought a willing offering to the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moshe, to be made.

Transliteration

Kol-ish ve-ishah asher nadav libam otam lehavi lekol-hamelakhah asher tzivah Adonai la'asot beyad-Moshe hevi'u venei-Yisrael nedavah la'Adonai.

Hebrew Leining Text

כׇּל־אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָדַ֣ב לִבָּם֮ אֹתָם֒ לְהָבִיא֙ לְכׇל־הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֑ה הֵבִ֧יאוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל נְדָבָ֖ה לַיהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}

Parasha Commentary

The Nature of the Willing Offering (Nedavah)

The verse describes the voluntary contributions of the Israelites for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Rashi (Exodus 35:21) emphasizes that the phrase "כָּל־אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר נָדַב לִבָּם" ("every man and woman whose heart made them willing") highlights the sincerity and enthusiasm of the donors. Unlike obligatory gifts, this was a free-will offering, demonstrating their love for Hashem and commitment to the Mishkan.

The Role of Men and Women in the Contribution

The inclusion of both men and women in this verse is significant. The Midrash Tanchuma (Pekudei 9) notes that women were particularly eager to contribute, often giving more generously than the men. Their involvement underscores the equal spiritual role of both genders in supporting the Mishkan, which served as the dwelling place of the Divine Presence.

The Commandment Through Moshe

The phrase "אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה" ("which the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moshe") teaches that the people's generosity was directed by divine instruction. Rambam (Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 1:12) explains that voluntary offerings for sacred purposes must align with the guidelines given by Moshe, ensuring that the contributions were used appropriately for the Mishkan's construction.

The Unity of Bnei Yisrael

The collective phrase "הֵבִיאוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל נְדָבָה לַיהוָה" ("the children of Yisrael brought a willing offering to the Lord") reflects the unity of the nation in this sacred endeavor. The Talmud (Yoma 75a) compares this moment to the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai, where Klal Yisrael acted as "one person with one heart." Here, too, their shared generosity symbolized their collective devotion.

Lessons in Generosity (Nedivus Lev)

The verse teaches that true giving comes from the heart ("נָדַב לִבָּם"), not merely out of obligation.
The Or HaChaim (Exodus 35:21) notes that the willingness to contribute to the Mishkan atoned for the sin of the Golden Calf, showing how generosity can rectify spiritual failings.
The Kli Yakar adds that the people's eagerness demonstrated their belief in the Mishkan's purpose—to bring the Shechinah closer to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Exodus 35:29 teach us about giving donations for holy purposes?
A: Exodus 35:29 teaches that donations for holy purposes, like building the Mishkan (Tabernacle), must come from a willing heart. The verse emphasizes that both men and women contributed voluntarily ('nedavah'), showing that true giving comes from inner motivation, not obligation. Rashi explains that this reflects the proper attitude in serving Hashem.

Q: Why does the verse mention both men and women bringing offerings?
A: The Torah specifically mentions both men and women to teach that all members of the Jewish people, regardless of gender, had an equal opportunity to participate in this holy act of donating to the Mishkan. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah) notes that women were actually more eager in their contributions than the men.

Q: What can we learn today from how the Israelites gave donations in Exodus 35:29?
A: We learn that when supporting Torah institutions or mitzvah projects today, we should give with the same voluntary enthusiasm ('nedavah') as our ancestors did for the Mishkan. The Rambam (Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 10:4) teaches that the highest level of tzedakah is when both giver and receiver benefit - as happened here where the donors merited helping build Hashem's dwelling place.

Q: What does 'commanded by the hand of Moshe' mean in this verse?
A: This phrase teaches that while the donations were voluntary, they were given for a specific purpose that Hashem commanded through Moshe. The Talmud (Yoma 72b) explains that this shows the importance of following Torah leadership - even voluntary offerings must align with the instructions given by our authentic Torah leaders.

Q: Why is the heart mentioned in connection with bringing offerings?
A: The Torah mentions the heart ('nadav libam') to teach that the value of a donation isn't measured by its size, but by the sincerity and joy with which it's given. The Kli Yakar explains that the heart represents our intentions - the most beautiful donations come from those whose hearts are fully dedicated to serving Hashem.