Rashi explains that נשאם, leaders, is spelled without the yud to tell us that they did something wrong; while everyone was donating to the Mishkan, the leaders said we'll wait until everyone donates & whatever is left, we will give. By the time the people finished giving, there was nothing else needed so they gave the stones.
We need to understand what is really wrong with what they did? If one were to ask someone who collects for an organization what he thought of people who would commit to make up whatever was lacking after the regular collections, he would be thrilled. What did the leaders do wrong?
The Yerushalmi relates a story that once Rebbi Akiva & another rabbi went to collect funds for needy Torah scholars. They headed first to someone who usually gave them nice donations. When they got to his house, however, they overheard his son asking him what they're going to eat that day. They heard him tell the son to go to the market place & buy cheap vegetables; preferably yesterday’s vegetables which would be cheaper. When the rabbis heard that, they turned & left, thinking that he doesn't seem to be in a position to donate like usual. After they had collected the monies that they needed from the other townspeople, they were headed back when they passed this man’s house again. This time, he saw them & asked how come they didn't come to him as usual? The rabbis answered that when we came, we heard what kind of food you told your son to buy, so we didn't want to bother you when you don't have money.
The man answered them, “What's between me & my son you overheard so you may know that, but what's between me & my Creator you can’t possibly know.” He promptly gave them a large donation. The rabbis were astounded that for himself the man was miserly, but when it came to doing mitzvos his generosity abounded.
Later, the Parsha says that the Kiyor, the Laver from which the Kohanim would wash their hands & feet before they did any service in the Mishkan, was made out of mirrors. Why? Toldos Yaakov Yosef explains that people are too subjective to see their own flaws. A person is oblivious to his own shortcomings. Additionally, the Baal Shem Tov says that the flaws one sees in others are just a reflection of one’s own. Just as a mirror reflects the ugly things about us, so, too, when we see ugliness in others, it’s really a reflection of ourselves. When the Kohanim came to wash before doing the Avodah, they were cleansing themselves not only of physical dirt but also of spiritual dirt. Therefore, the laver was made of mirrors so the kohanim would be reminded to look at themselves to see where they needed spiritual cleaning. By scrutinizing the way they view others, they would discover where they themselves needed improvement.
Perhaps, this is what the leaders did wrong. They looked at the people from their own perspective of not really wanting to give. Because they thought the people wouldn't give, they said we'll give what's left. Just like Rabbi Akiva, who thought the man wouldn’t give because of his own frugality, misjudged the situation. In actuality, the reason the man was frugal on himself was to be able to give! So, too, the leaders misjudged the people who really wanted to give. Therefore, what would have been a generous offer was flawed because it showed that, perhaps, they themselves didn't really want to give.
We have to learn from here how not to judge or assume things about others. If we see things that bother us about other people, we must look in the mirror & see if we have the same fault. By reflecting on what bothers us about others we can come to correct our own faults & instead of judging others we will improve ourselves!
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