No Compromise on Jewish Education

In פרשת ויקהל, we receive an accounting of all the materials used in the construction of the Mishkan. Based on these instructions, we also learn how the vessels were made in the Beit Hamikdash.

There were periods in our history, where restoring the vessels were too costly for the community to bear. Some of the vessels were meant to be made of gold. These included, for example the שולחן, the table, and the Menorah. If gold was unavailable, they were allowed to build these vessels of less expensive materials, such as silver or copper.

For example, the Menorah made by the Chashmonaim after the Chanukah story, was seven metal poles. They wanted to light it as soon as possible, so that was the best they could do, at the time.

Only the כרובים, the Cherubs with childlike angelic faces, placed on the Holy Ark, had to be made only of gold. There was no substitute for any other substance other than gold.

The symbolism of the children’s angelic faces, was חינוך, or Jewish education. There could be other areas of Judaism, that might be open for compromise. But we must never compromise the education of our children. They are our future, and we must do everything possible to give them the best education possible. This is more precious than gold, and needs to be our main focus in Jewish life.