We often focus on the big names, the artisans, the leaders. But what about the women? Their story, as told in the Legends of the Jews, is truly remarkable (Ginzberg).
Apparently, they were incredibly keen to help, especially with those beautiful woolen hangings. And here's where it gets really interesting: they spun the wool right off the goats! Talk about resourceful!
But when they offered their contributions to Moses, he hesitated. Why? According to the tale, Moses was concerned about accepting items used for personal adornment. The women, undeterred, responded with a powerful argument, presenting their cloaks and mirrors.
"Why reject our gifts?" they asked. "If you think we're trying to beautify the sanctuary with things women use to enhance their beauty, here are our cloaks. We use them to conceal ourselves." Then, they added, "And if you fear we're offering things that belong to our husbands, behold, these are our mirrors, which are ours alone."
Moses was not impressed by the mirrors. In fact, he was furious! "What right do these mirrors have in the sanctuary," he exclaimed, "these objects that only exist to arouse sensual desires?" He even ordered the women to be driven away!
But then, God intervened. And what God said is truly astounding.
God said to Moses, "Truly dearer to Me than all other gifts are these mirrors, for it was these mirrors that yielded Me My hosts."
What does that mean? Well, Ginzberg explains, back in Egypt, when the Israelite men were exhausted by their brutal labor, the women would bring them food and drink. Then, they'd take out their mirrors and playfully say to their husbands, "Look in the mirror! I'm much more beautiful than you!" This sparked passion, helping them forget their troubles and conceive children, swelling the ranks of the Israelite nation.
So, God instructed Moses to take those very mirrors and fashion them into the kiyor, the laver (washbasin) used for the priests' sanctification.
But the story doesn't end there. The water from this laver was also used in the ordeal of the suspected adulteress, the sotah. Remember that? The ritual described in Numbers chapter 5. If a woman was suspected of adultery, she had to drink water with dust from the Temple floor in it. If innocent, she'd be fine. If guilty, she'd suffer consequences.
So, the mirrors, once instruments of love and connection, were also used to create the vessel for water that would restore peace between husband and wife. It's a powerful image, isn't it? From kindling marital affection to restoring broken peace, the mirrors played a pivotal role.
This little story, tucked away in the legends, reminds us that even the most seemingly ordinary objects, even those associated with vanity, can be transformed and used for sacred purposes. It's a reminder that divinity can be found in the most unexpected places and that the contributions of all, especially those often overlooked, are invaluable.