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Hammer Time by Rabbi Shalom Hammer

These Parshiyot discuss the design and construction of both the Mishkan and the utensils that service it. The Mishkan and its utensils were hekdesh, which means that they could only be used for avodat hakodesh. The isur of Meila prohibits one from using hekdesh for a purpose unrelated to the Mishkan. The Gemara Menachot asks that when klal yisrael were in the process of constructing the mishkan, inevitably, they would commit Meila. For example, if someone rested on one of the beams or sat under a beam for protection from the sun, they were benefiting from the materials of the Mishkan. How then would Klal Yisrael avoid transgressing Meila during the construction of the Mishkan?

The Gemara answers,
“Bonin bechol veachar kach mekadshin”. During its construction, the Mishkan or its materials were not reserved for kedusha. Only upon its completion was the Mishkan designated for servicing Hashem and considered hekdesh. Therefore, while the Mishkan was built, it was permissible to benefit from its raw materials. Once the physical work and hard labor was completed then the spiritual attributes of the Mishkan manifested themselves. This is when the Mishkan became the dwelling place of Hashem,
“Veasu li mikdash veshachanti betocham”.

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