In addition to the Mishkan/Sanctuary which the Jews were told to build in the desert, the Medrash tells us that there was a second Sanctuary, a Sanctuary of Testimony. What exactly was the function of this second Sanctuary?

When Moshe announced the mitzvah to build the Mishkan, the people were excited and donated generously. Despite the fact that an enormous amount of wealth and talent was required, the Jews donated so much that the Torah records, “And there was extra.” The Medrash says that with that extra, the second Sanctuary was built.

It is probable that this second Sanctuary was not a functional edifice. It probably did not have doorways that you could walk through, or altars that could be used. It was strictly for show. But it was a Sanctuary of Testimony- Testimony that “You can do it.” This second Sanctuary was testimony that despite the enormity of the task, we succeeded… and even had extra.

The message of this second Sanctuary is a meaningful one. Sometimes when we do good, we simply move on. The Torah teaches us to first celebrate and commemorate the success, and only then should we move on. This way, if at a later date you need to be inspired, you have left yourself something to admire and remind yourself that you can do it.

I recall at one point in my youth I completed a significant section of Halacha study. My Rebbe instructed me that I should make a siyum, a festive celebration. I objected. I said, “But I didn’t complete it with all the commentaries.” He said, “No matter. Make the celebration on what you did do, and one day you will finish it with the commentaries.”
Some people understand and implement this positive feedback in a most effective way.

I once had the privilege of spending time with a very devout Jew who ran an interest free loan fund. As a loan was paid he would mark the contract “Paid” and he would then slide it into his drawer. At the end of the day, I watched as he carefully ripped off the top and bottom of each “paid” contract, thus removing the parts that contained the borrower’s printed name and the signature. The parts that he removed he would shred and discard. But the contract itself he would save.

He explained, “I don’t need to remember who borrowed money. That information I can discard. But the fact that I did lend money is something I would like to remember. The fact that we loaned $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000 to people in need is something that will inspire me to continue.”

It is, indeed, worthwhile for people to save something of their “to do” list, even after the task is completed. So many people just move on after an accomplishment. But if, for example, you have a file in which you keep the parking stub from every time you visited someone in the hospital, then you have something to go back to when you need to be inspired.

Interestingly, it is often the “extra” that produces the most inspirational aspect of a life experience. It is the extra donations to the Sanctuary that were saved to inspire, and the paid loan documents and parking stubs which can be a force of positive reinforcement to us all.

Contrast that with newspapers that we all attach so much importance to. At first they are deemed sacred. But after a day or two they can truly be discarded. As one news commentator lamented, “There is nothing as awful as being current. Today you are important, but tomorrow your words can be found on the bottom of a bird cage.”

The Mishkan of Testimony reminds us that the true test of a remarkable event is if you can take its “extra” and find it meaningful to save. If so, the event had eternal value. Save it- read all about it- because when you do you will be inspired to continue in the ways of goodness.