Mandatory and Voluntary

There were actually three donations that were given by the people, in order to build the Mishkan. The first two were obligatory, known as חובה. The third donation was optional, known as רשות.

The two obligatory gifts were used in purchasing the אדנים, or hooks, and the second was used in the offering of public sacrifices. The funds used for this came from the obligatory half shekel, given by every adult male.

The third donation was used for the needs of the overall construction of the portable Temple used in the desert. These funds came from every man who was, “generous of heart.” This gift came from those who had the correct intention of giving for the sake of Heaven.

Rav Kook commented on these two aspects of serving Hashem. There is the חובה, obligatory aspect, where it is demanded of us that we observe the commandments. But there is also the רשות, voluntary aspect, where we are taught the importance of giving generously even when we are not commanded.

The Talmud spoke of a bitter argument between Rabbi Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua regarding the evening prayer, Arvit. Rabbi Yehoshua felt it was a רשות, voluntary obligation, and Rabbi Gamliel felt it was חובה, obligatory.

The argument led to Rabbi Gamliel being removed as head of the Sanhedrin, because he humiliated Rabbi Yehoshua. The young, Rabbi Eliezer Ben Azariah took his place and the seventeen year old miraculously grew a long white beard over night. (We mention him at our Pesach Seder.)

The lesson here is one of great importance. It is not enough if our worshipping G-d only contains one of these two factors. Both are necessary in order to become true servants of Hashem. We must diligently follow all of the dictates of the Torah. But we must also have a generous heart and give even if we are not commanded to do so.