ויבאו האנשים על הנשים…(ויקהל לה:כב)

A group of askanim – furndraising activists for a Mossed HaTorah (a Torah establishment) approached the Imrei Chaim of Viznitz zt’’l and extended an invitation for him to attend a fundraising dinner as an honored guest. The Imrei Chaim agreed to attend on the condition that there would be separate seating for men and women.

The askanim expressed their concern to the Imrei Chaim, explaining that their donor base might decline to attend if separate seateing arrangements were enforced. In response, the Imrei Chaim smiled and referenced a lesson from Parshas Vayakheil.  He recounted how, when Moshe Rabbinu instructed the Yidden to bring ‘teruma’ (donations) for the Mishkan, men and women came together to contribute- “ויבאו האנשים על הנשים”.  Witnessing this, the overseers of the Mishkan’s construction, remarked “איש ואשה אל יעשה עוד יחד מלאכה לתרומה הקודש” – “A man and a woman shall no longer work together to bring holy donations.” Yet, despite this separation, the Torah later notes “והמלאכה היתה דים והותר” – that the work was completed, and there was an abundance.

Concluding his point, the Imrei Chaim emphasized, “One who fulfills the will of Hashem will never lose out!”