Dear Friend,
When the Jewish people built the Mishkan (Tabernacle), they were asked to donate materials—gold, silver, and copper. On the surface, this seems simple. Some people could afford gold, others silver, and those with less gave copper.
But the Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that these metals represent something much deeper. Gold symbolizes the tzaddik, the perfectly righteous person. Silver represents the baal teshuvah, the one who has made mistakes but longs to return to G‑d—sometimes even more passionately than the tzaddik. And copper, the simplest metal, represents the person who is still struggling but is doing good deeds, even if they are not perfect.
And yet, the Mishkan—the place where G‑d’s presence rested—needed all three. Because G‑d’s home isn’t just for the righteous, or for those who feel spiritually strong. It’s for everyone.
This is such a powerful message. Sometimes we think, I’m not “gold.” I don’t always get it right. Maybe I don’t belong. But G‑d says otherwise. The Mishkan wasn’t made of just gold. It was made of gold, silver, and copper. The yearning of someone trying to return, and even the simple good deeds of someone still struggling, are just as essential in making a place for G‑d in this world.
So, wherever you are in your journey, know that you matter. Your connection to G‑d, no matter what form it takes, is real. And just by being who you are, you are helping build something holy.
Thank you for all that you do, for every mitzvah, every act of kindness, and every moment of connection. It all adds up to something incredible.
Wishing you a Shabbat filled with warmth, belonging, and the knowledge that you are part of something great!
Rabbi Yitzi and Rishi Hein