"Speak unto the Children of Israel that they may take me an offering; of every man whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering." (-Shmot 25.2)
The commentaries question the Torah's curious use of the verb "take" when referring to the offering that the Children of Israel were commanded to bring for the building of the Mishkan. In fact, one "gives" an offering. Why the term "take?"
The Yalkut Shimoni promotes an important concept in settling this seemingly semantic issue. He explains that when the recipient of a gift is someone of great stature, the one "giving" the gift also feels a sense of honor and enrichment. He gains from the very fact that the noble recipient accepts his offering. The Talmid in Kiddushin explains that if a groom betrothes a bride with coins or a ring purchased by the bride, the matrimonial transaction is invalid. This is because the gift of the transaction is incumbent on the groom. However, the Talmud goes on, if a groom is a man of great importance, then even if the coins or ring are of the bride's property, the transaction is a valid one. This is based on the premise that the bride, in having this especially noble groom accept her coins or rung in the matrimonial transaction is a valid one.
This is based on the premise that the bride, in having this especially noble groom accept her coins or rin in the matrimonial transaction, actually gains from her offering. The point is that certain forms of "giving" offer us a sense of gain, of spiritual enrichment, in return. We find this same concept with Abraham, who eagerly awaits the passerby at his tent and rushes toward them as they approach, with the invitation that "And I will take you bread" (Bereshit 18.4). In going with such an open heart, and in honoring such revered guests with the mitzvah of welcoming them into his home, Abraham felt as if he were recieving rather than giving away something of his own.
This is an important concept in charity - that the donor feel as if he, too, were a recipient, and that his spirit was enriched by the act of giving. in contributing toward the building of the Mishkan, the Children of Israel were enriched in the knowledge that God Almighty was accepting their offerings.
The Vilna Gaon explains the verse, "of every man whose heart maketh him willing you shall take my offering," in the following way: Who is the man "whose heart maketh him willing?" - he who gives of himself along with his offering and who wholeheartedly requests that "... you shall take my offering."
If we can elevate ourselves to the point of giving of ourselves along with our offerings, we may one day be worthy of God's Mishkan so that God may be among us, as it is said, "And I will dwell among you."
