"All those who were generous of heart brought
bracelets, nose-rings, finger-rings, and chastity belts " (Ex. 35:22)
Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra translates this list of items slightly differently, as "earrings,
nose-rings, finger-rings, and bracelets."
Allegorically, this list of items (according to this
translation) that the women donated toward the construction of the Tabernacle
alludes to the four ingredients of proper child-rearing that all parents must
contribute in their efforts to raise Jewish children who will transform the
world into G-d's home:
Earrings: Parents must hearken to the
Torah's instructions as well of those of their generation's Torah sages in all
aspects of educating their children. Also, they must listen carefully to their
children's conversations with their peers and among themselves, for children
learn how to talk from their elder's example; if something is amiss in how they
speak, it means something is amiss in how their role-models speak.
Nose-rings: Parents must develop a keen
sense of "smell" to determine if their children's friendships with other
children are beneficial.
Parents must point their children to the proper path.
Finger-rings: Parents must point their
children to the proper path, by explaining to them gently and convincingly how
worthwhile it is to adhere to the Torah's teachings and how detrimental it is to
follow improper paths.
Bracelets: At the same time, parents
must be strong-armed and strict. Even if the children are well-behaved, the
parents must be strict with them in order to foster their enthusiasm for their
studies.
[Adapted by Moshe Yakov Wisnefsky from Likutei Dibburim vol. 3 – English
edition: vol V, pp. 235-236.]
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