Educator framing: Each individual in our community plays a unique and important role. When we set out to complete a national project (in this case, the Tabernacle), the Torah takes the time to record the contributions of lot of different types of people, including populations who get less attention in other parts of the Torah like artists, women who sew, and two male interior designers.
Students can dissect the text, looking for what kinds of contributions people made. Why do different groups contribute differently? What class / gender / skill / identity categories are recognized? Is there anyone missing?
The second part of the sheet shifts gears and looks at the role of a single leader, Moses. What are the lessons that we can glean from him role as CEO of the Jewish people?
The sources included are long and should be whittle down by anyone using this sheet as appropriate for their constituents. The second part can be taught as its own separate session.
(21) These are the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Pact, which were drawn up at Moses’ bidding—the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. (22) Now Bezalel, son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, had made all that the LORD had commanded Moses; (23) at his side was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, carver and designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and crimson yarns and in fine linen. (24) All the gold that was used for the work, in all the work of the sanctuary—the elevation offering of gold—came to 29 talents and 730 shekels by the sanctuary weight. (25) The silver of those of the community who were recorded came to 100 talents and 1,775 shekels by the sanctuary weight: (26) a half-shekel a head, half a shekel by the sanctuary weight, for each one who was entered in the records, from the age of twenty years up, 603,550 men.
(1) עבדת הלוים THE SERVICE OF THE LEVITES — The things in the Tabernacle which were counted and its vessels constituted the service entrusted to the Levites in the wilderness — to carry them, to take them down and to set them up, each man according to the burden which was assigned to him
(1) ובצלאל בן אורי וגו׳ עשה את כל אשר צוה ה' את משה AND BEZALEEL THE SON OF URI etc. MADE ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES — It is not stated here: אשר צֻוָּה (Bezaleel made all that he had been commanded), but “[Bezaleel made] all that the Lord commanded Moses” — even regarding such things which his teacher (Moses) did not tell him, his own opinion was in agreement with what had been told to Moses on Sinai.
(21) And everyone who excelled in ability and everyone whose spirit moved him came, bringing to the LORD his offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting and for all its service and for the sacral vestments.
(22) Men and women, all whose hearts moved them, all who would make an elevation offering of gold to the LORD, came bringing brooches, earrings, rings, and pendants—gold objects of all kinds.
(23) And everyone who had in their possession blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, goats’ hair, tanned ram skins, and dolphin skins, brought them;
(24) everyone who would make gifts of silver or copper brought them as gifts for the LORD; and everyone who had in their possession acacia wood for any work of the service brought that.
(25) And all the skilled women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen.
(26) And all the women who excelled in that skill spun the goats’ hair.
(27) And the princes brought lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece; (28) and spices and oil for lighting, for the anointing oil, and for the aromatic incense.
(1) והנשאם הביאו AND THE PRINCES BROUGHT [ONYX STONES] ...
The princes said: “Let the community in general contribute all they with to give and what will then be lacking we shall supply”
But when the community gave everything that was needed— the princes asked, “What can we now do?”
therefore THEY BROUGHT THE ONYX STONES etc... However, they are criticized by the Torah because they didn't do enough at the beginning. As result, a letter is missing here from the princes' title...: for it is written והנשאם instead of והנשיאים
It's interesting to note that the wealthy / powerful princes are the only group criticized for their contribution (or lack thereof).
(13) Next day, Moses sat as magistrate among the people, while the people stood about Moses from morning until evening.
Good counsel helps leaders see their blind spots*
(14) But when Moses’ father-in-law saw how much he had to do for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone, while all the people stand about you from morning until evening?”
Good counsel listens
(15) Moses replied to his father-in-law, “It is because the people come to me to inquire of God. (16) When they have a dispute, it comes before me, and I decide between one person and another, and I make known the laws and teachings of God.”
Good counsel cares for the leadership even amidst rebuke
(17) But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not right; (18) you will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.
Jewish Institutional Leadership Guidelines:
Maintain a senior leadership role
(19) Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You represent the people before God: you bring the disputes before God,
But educate everyone
(20) and enjoin upon them the laws and the teachings, and make known to them the way they are to go and the practices they are to follow.
Seek out many other qualified, trustworthy leaders
(21) You shall also seek out from among all the people (who meet (all, or just some of?) the following criteria)
a. capable men who
b. fear God,
c. trustworthy men
d. who spurn ill-gotten gain.
Create an empowered leadership structure to reach a lot of people with personalized attention:
Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, (22) and let them judge the people at all times.
Make sure the leaders knows their roles and responsibilities, including the limits:
Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves.
* italicized text = Rabbi Aaron's notes
(1) Moses filled four roles: prophet, king, teacher and judge, the first three of which no one else could help him with.