The most precious contribution

The Kiyor (wash fountain) was made from the copper mirrors of the Jewish women, who used them to beautify themselves for their husbands and give birth to the Jewish nation in Egypt.

Moshe did not want to use them since they were items made for arousing the Yetzer Hora. But Hashem told Moshe to take them, “for they are more precious to Me than anything else”.

What was Hashem’s message?

The Mishkan of our lives does not just comprise of our innately holy activities of Torah study and prayer. These are the pursuits of our G-dly soul. We need to elevate the drives and passions of our animalistic soul which are not so readily G-dly, so that they too are brought into our inner Mishkan and dedicated to Hashem.

By harnessing and channeling our desires and imbuing our worldly involvements with holy intentions, we emulate the Jewish women in Mitzrayim and how they used their mirrors.

It’s not easy and it comes with inner struggle. But it is the struggle that makes it so meaningful. When we can direct our desires in this way, there is nothing more sublime and it is more precious to Hashem than anything else.