From_Vanity_to_Holiness__Why_God_Chose_the_Womens_Mirrors_for_the_Tabernacle.

Now, Rashi has a comment on this.

It's one of the most interesting Rashis in the entire Torah.

He gives the whole backstory of these mirrors and the very unusual debate that between God and Moshe regarding the suitability of using these mirrors for an item, for a vessel in the tabernacle.

Rashi tells us that in Egypt, the women would use these mirrors when applying makeup.

they would, this is not new, I guess, they would use a mirror and they would put makeup on their faces with the help of these mirrors.

And Rashi tells us that Moshe, when the women came to donate their mirrors, Moshe didn't want to accept it.

Moshe reasons this is the tabernacle.

This is the place where God's presence is going to dwell.

This is God's home, as it were, in this world.

These mirrors, the women would use them to become more attractive, and that would be a tool to spur the desire of their husband.

Therefore, it's a tool to spur the Yetzirah, the evil inclination.

And the evil inclination, that's the foreign god.

And this is the home of God Almighty.

So Moshe thought it was inappropriate to accept these mirrors for the tabernacle project.

Rashi tells us this.

And Rashi continues that God said, no, you have to accept it.

You have to accept these mirrors.

Why? Very interesting.

God said to Moshe, accept them.

Because these mirrors are the most cherished in my eyes, so to speak.

God's saying, of all the different items that were donated, the one that's most cherished by God... are these mirrors.

Of all the contributions, of all the gold, of all the silver, of all the other copper, of all the various fabrics and skins and wood, the most cherished in the eyes of God are the mirrors used by the women in Egypt to beautify themselves.

Why? Because of these mirrors, the nation grew.

And the women were able to raise legions of Jews.

Very interesting.