Imagine a child giving their parent a drawing. The paper is crumpled, the lines are messy, and the colors don’t stay inside the lines. Objectively, it’s not worth much. But to the parent? It’s priceless. Because it wasn’t about the paper or the crayons—it was about the love behind it.

In this week’s parsha, we see a powerful lesson about what it means to truly give to Hashem. When the Torah describes the donations for the Mishkan, it says: “Kol nediv libo” – “Everyone whose heart moves them” (Shemot 35:5). Hashem doesn’t need anything from us. The amount or the material value of what we give is not what matters. What matters is the love, sincerity, and desire to connect that we put into it.

This is a fundamental concept in our avodat Hashem (service of Hashem). Whether in tefillah, learning Torah, mitzvot, or acts of kindness, the real measure of our giving is how much heart we put into it. The Mishkan, though a deeply spiritual place, required precise physical measurements for each vessel and structure. This teaches us an important balance: While Hashem desires our heartfelt devotion, He also sets clear guidelines on how He wants us to serve Him.

We sometimes feel a deep love for Hashem and a strong desire to express that love in our own way. But the Torah reminds us that true connection comes through following Hashem’s instructions. Hashem, in His infinite wisdom, has already given us the perfect blueprint—the Torah. It is through these mitzvot that we build our relationship with Him.

This lesson applies to every aspect of life. By infusing our daily routines with holiness and aligning our actions with divine will, we transform the physical world into a place of kedusha (holiness). Each moment becomes an opportunity to bring Hashem into our lives and contribute to the ultimate purpose of creation—a world of redemption and closeness to Hashem.

May we always remember that the greatest gift we can give is not measured in quantity but in the depth of our heart. And may we use the Torah’s guidance to ensure that our service is not only sincere but also aligned with Hashem’s will, bringing us closer to Him in the truest way.