Pekudei 5779
אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות
Why does the Torah repeat the word Mishkan in the opening pasuk? Rashi gives two answers - that it alludes to the collateral of the 2 Batei Mikdash that God took from us and will return (the 3rd Beit HaMikdash), and that God forgave us for the Golden Calf.
Emet L'Yaakov: how does destroying the Mikdash serve as collateral? How did donating to the Mikdash atone for the Golden Calf?
R' Yochanan Zweig: Why is the concept of the Mikdash as collateral mentioned at the end of the building of the Mishkan and not at the beginning? If the Mishkan belong to Hashem (ועשו לי מקדש) - how can we receive it as collateral! Why is the accounting given to Bnei Yisrael not to God?
Delivered at the OU Israel Center, March 7, 2019 (30 Adar I 5779)