And the rulers brought shoham stones, and stones to be set, for the efod, and for the breastplate (Shemos 35:27)

Chazal tell us that the nesi’im waited to bring what was lacking after all the donations for the mishkan were made. But the outpouring of generosity of all of klal Yisrael left nothing for them to donate. The Targum Yonasan says on the above verse that the Clouds of Glory pulled the avnei shoham and avnei Miluim out of the River Pishon and dropped them in the desert, where the nesi’im gathered them and gave them for the Mishkan. The question is, what is the lesson to be learnt from such a miraculous happening?

I would like to share with you two different approaches which seem to contradict each other. The first is that of Rav Shraga Grossbard, the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh Yeshiva Ketana. A person may have the purest intent and yet for some reason he does not merit to execute the mitzvah that he wants. Since it was the intent of the nesi’im to sanctify the sheim Shamayim by filling in that which was lacking, Hashem performed a miracle to give them items that no one else had. Even though it was not from their own personal wealth, they became facilitators to bring about the completion of the mishkan and its vessels. This is a beautiful example of “Those who try to purify themselves, Hashem helps them”.

I once heard the exact opposite concept. The nesi’im’s thought process was that it must be that there will be something lacking in the donations, and they would come to save the day by giving it. Hashem used two events to teach them a lesson: First, that at the end, there was nothing lacking in the building of the mishkan which they could donate. Second, that when the stones for the breastplate needed to be found, the nesi’im had no way to obtain them, but Hashem made a miracle so that they could donate them. Hashem was teaching them a lesson that “I don’t need you to be the ones to save the day. You should consider it a merit to be able to donate.” That’s why Hashem Himself procured the stones and then let the nesi’im donate them.

On the night of the Seder, we invite guests by saying, “kol dichfin yeisei v’yeichol.” Imagine sitting around the table, and just then there is a knock on the door, and strangers are there asking for a place to stay as they have some kind of technical difficulty (such as a problem with their car or a medical emergency). They were directed to you as a family that would be happy to welcome visitors. How honored would you feel that Hashem has granted you the opportunity on Seder night to host guests who are in real need! And all this happened right after you beseeched Hashem for this specific mitzvah. Would you feel “I deserve it!”? Or would you humbly feel you were a beneficiary of Hashem’s kindness in giving you the opportunity to do a mitzvah? I believe that at times we feel the first way and other times the second. We should understand that both feelings are true – that the opportunity to do a mitzvah is a zechus from Hashem, and that our prayers and true desire to perform the mitzvos may prime the pump so that Hashem will send those opportunities our way.

On Purim, we give matanos l’evyonim and we feel that giving to the poor has enhanced our holiday. Before Pesach, we give ma’os chitim with the understanding that this is part of our Pesach obligation to help others out as well. We consider these mitzvos of tzedakah as opportunities, and indeed they are. I would just like to remind us all that even when we are really in a rush, and someone stops us on a regular day to solicit funds, that too is a golden opportunity.

May we understand and truly feel that our helping others enhances our avodas Hashem in general. If Hashem gives us the opportunities, we should be grateful to have been chosen as worthwhile conduits to help out the downtrodden.