Parshat Pekudei: Being Trustworthy
by Rabbi Lobel

(Exodus; Chapter 38, Verse 21) “These are the accountings of the Tabernacle...” The Medrash Tanchuma (Pekudei 7) explains, Moses was to audit himself. Moses was in charge of taking inventory for all the gold, silver, and copper donated to the building of the Tabernacle. All the intake was accounted for and nothing was missing.

The Tanchuma asks why it was necessary for Moses to run an internal audit. The Torah itself testifies, when comparing Moses to other prophets, “not so is My [G-d's] servant Moses, in my entire house he is trusted (Numbers 12:7).” The Tanchuma explains, “Moses heard the scoffers of the generation say, “A man who was appointed upon Kikars (a large measurement estimated in the hundred thousands) of gold and silver, what do you want from him, not to be rich?” When Moses heard this accusation he said, “You can bet your life their will be an audit.”

Moses had nothing to prove – G-d would have rested his Shechina (Glory) upon the Tabernacle even if there would have not been an audit. That alone would have proven the pureness and holiness of the Tabernacle, built by pure and ethical people. Furthermore, the Torah felt the need to spend an entire parsha (portion) going through the actual audit to prove Moses' point to the “scoffers of the generation.” Yet, Moses performed an audit.

A person must be more than simply trustworthy in all of his endeavors; he also has a moral and ethical obligation to show all that his actions are trustworthy. Moses understood this important lesson and was willing to even justify his actions to those who unjustifiably attacked him.