Parashat Pekudei opens with a list of exact amounts of material used for the mishkan, perhaps more appropriate for a spreadsheet than a narrative.  While at first it seems that this list is exhaustive, in fact, the only items for which a precise amount is recorded are the precious metals: gold, silver, and copper.  Although this gold, silver, and copper were used as construction materials in the mishkan, generally precious metals are used on a smaller scale for adornments and jewelry, and, of course, coins and currency.  The treatment of these metals can stand in for how we relate to money and its collection. The strict accounting of the money that was used to build the mishkan highlights an important lesson in what it means to be transparent and accountable and to always hold ourselves to the highest standard.