Enough - And Then Some

And the work was sufficient for them for all the work, to do it and to leave over.

זוְהַמְּלָאכָה הָיְתָה דַיָּם לְכָל הַמְּלָאכָה לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתָהּ וְהוֹתֵר:

This is the concluding verse of the description of the building campaign for the Mishkan. But after reading this verse, the question I’m left with is this: Did the campaign bring in just enough: דַיָּם?

Or was there an excess of materials donated to the campaign, as inferred by the word וְהוֹתֵר?

The Shelah Hakadosh focuses on the first term, and explains that the building campaign did not raise enough materials to construct the Mishkan and all of its vessels. The term דַיָּם hints at the miracle that occurred that enabled the construction of the Mishkan with less than the amount of materials naturally required.

The Ohr Hachayim focuses on the word וְהוֹתֵר. He also believes that a miracle is being alluded to in this verse. According to his approach, the people brought more materials than what were needed. There was a surplus, which accordingly to the natural order of things would not have been used in this phase of the building campaign. However a miracle occurred so that the excess material was incorporated into the Mishkan construction at this time.

At first this might seem like a waste of funds. Those surplus materials could have been used in the future instead of miraculously being “swallowed up” and included in this building campaign.

I think that the Ohr Hachayim is teaching us an important lesson about the role of the individual within society. In a large society one might feel as if his/her contributions are unnecessary or superflous. If we ever feel that way we should look to the Mishkan building campaign to remind us that every contribution is necessary. Every contribution is holy. Every contribution is included in the totality of the Mishkan.