The double-parshah of Vayakheil and Pekudei records the completion of the Tabernacle constructed in the wilderness by the Jewish nation.

In the preparation of the Tabernacle, the Torah relates that the people, in their zeal to have a share in this unique mitzvah, continued to offer gifts to Moshe, even after all the necessary materials were gathered. "Moshe commanded that they proclaim throughout the camp: ‘Let no man or woman do any more work for the sanctified offering.’ So the people ceased bringing."

Moshe only told the people to stop working he never asked that the contributions be discontinued Why did the people refrain from further monetary gifts?

The Ramban, perhaps sensing this difficulty, writes simply, "Money is called work," and brings other verses to support this contention.

The first Belzer Rebbe, z"tl, however, understands the word melachah in its common usage of "physical work," and explains the effect in psychological and emotional terms. Moshe did indeed only suspended further man-made gifts, but when one’s labors are not welcome, he tends to reduce or even discontinue one’s financial commitments as well.

Therefore, when the people were told that the toil of their hands was no longer needed, they stopped contributing money as well.

Centuries later, after celebrating the inauguration of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem for seven days, King Solomon and the Jewish nation celebrated for an additional seven days. Then, "on the Eighth Day he sent the nation [home] and they blessed the king and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart."

"Joyful," the Gemara interprets, that they had enjoyed the radiance of the Holy Presence of G-d; and "glad of heart" that their wives conceived and bore them each a baby boy.

Those who participated in the dedication of the Temple became so infused with the Holy Presence that they returned home and impregnated their wives. Even those women who were infertile, became pregnant and gave birth to sons.

How are we to understand this statement of the Gemara? What is the connection between attending the inauguration of the Holy Temple and bearing sons?

Rav Yosef D. Soloveitchik, z"tl, explains that the holiness of the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple, emanated from the Holy Ark, which contained the two luchos, representing the Torah. Indeed, as the Ramban elucidates in his commentary, the purpose of the Tabernacle was to perpetuate the revelation of G-d’s glory at Mount Sinai, where the Torah was given.

Hence, having shared in the dedication of the Temple, which is sacred by virtue of the Torah contained in its Holy of Holies, the Jewish people absorbed a portion of this holiness and immediately merited children who would become Torah scholars.

Rabbi Marvin Sugarman

Rabbi Sugarman is rabbi of Shaarey Zedek Congregation in North Hollywood, California.