Parsha Va’yakhel: The model, dedicated women

The washbasin and its stand were made of copper from the mirrors of the dedicated women who congregated at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Shmot 28:8).

There is much credit given to the women who donated their mirrors for the sake of the creation of the kiyor (washbasin). Who were these women? Why were they so special to the point of their being enumerated in such a fashion?

According to Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s well-researched commentary, the word tzavu, translated above as “congregated,” can also be translated as “to worship,” “celebrated,” “exiled themselves,” or as those who worked as “craftswomen.”

The Ibn Ezra, in his “Peirush Hakatzar,” brings another possibility, that the women who donated their mirrors “came regularly (tamid) to the place of the tent to pray, and they rejected all worldy desires. This is why they donated their mirrors! Because (generally) all that women do is beautify their faces.” These women broke that mold.

Before we get all hung up on the Ibn Ezra’s sexism, let us recall first that he was writing in the 12th century. Additionally, he was certainly reflecting one of the Talmudic sentiments recorded in Taanit 31a about women’s purpose — all of which were purportedly stated by different women describing themselves to potential suitors. More importantly, we must focus on how Ibn Ezra is crediting these uniquely spiritual women who dedicated so much of their time to regularly (always?) pray, to the point that they had no need for their mirrors.

Ramban adds that not only did they come to pray, but they wanted to hear all about the mitzvot — in other words, they came to learn Torah as well. Their donations were completely pure. The copper of their mirrors was particularly burnished, making it extremely high quality. This is why, Ramban claims, Moshe dedicated their copper for this specific vessel, meant to help the kohanim achieve purity.

Ramban, however, suggests that they also had in mind the Sotah waters, which were gathered from this very same washbasin.