23 Pekude | Accountability and Transparency in a Good Society

Rabbi Jonathan Kligler

"Pekudei" means "accounting." Moses gives a detailed accounting of every penny spent on the construction of the Mishkan. Why does the Torah spend time on these boring details? Our tradition teaches that this highlights yet another of Moses' important leadership qualities. A society based on mutual trust could only be created if its leaders were trustworthy and accountable.