B"H
Monday, Shevat 29, 5780 / February 24, 2020
In this week’s Parsha, Terumah, G-d commands Moshe to speak to the Jewish people that they should collect contributions towards the building of the Mishkan – the Tabernacle, which functioned as a House for G-d, and served the Jewish people throughout all their years in the desert.
The Parsha begins, “And G-d spoke to Moshe saying: 'Speak to the Children of Israel, that theyshall take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.”
The previous Parsha, Mishpatim, is about the laws of damages, money disputes between one and another. Why does Parshat Terumah, which deals with the contributions for the Tabernacle, come after Mishpatim?
A. Our sages explain that before one contributes to charity, one has to make sure that what they contribute is “kosher money.” In other words, one cannot perform the mitzvah of charity by donating money which was acquired in non-kosher ways, such as stealing or cheating. A mitzvah cannot be performed by sinful means.
Q. The Parsha speaks about the contribution which G-d commanded the people to donate toward the building of the Mishkan. Why then does G-d tell Moshe to tell them, “Take for Me an offering”? G-d should have told Moshe to tell the people, “They shall GIVE for Me an offering?"
A. Our sages explain that the Torah teaches us here the proper attitude and approach to giving charity. When we give charity we should know that in reality we are not only giving, but more than that, we are "taking." For we get much more in return from G-d than what we give to Him.
The Talmud puts it as follows: "The poor man who receives charit, does far more for the rich man, than what the rich man does for the poor one!" The blessings which result through giving charity are worth much more than the amount which we give.
The great Talmudic sage Rabbi Yehuda says, "Ten hard things have been created in the world. The rock is hard, but iron shatters it; Iron is hard, but fire softens it; Fire is powerful, but water extinguishes it; Water is heavy, but clouds carry it; Clouds are thick, but wind scatters them; Wind is strong, but a body resists it; The body is strong, but fear crushes it; Fear is powerful, but wine banishes it; Wine is strong, but sleep works it off; Death is stronger than all, yet, charity delivers from death!
Q. The Torah uses the word “Terumah” as “offering.” The word “Terumah” usually means “to elevate.” Why does the Torah use the term “Terumah” (elevating) when speaking about contributing for the Mishkan-Temple?
A. When we perform a mitzvah through a physical object, we “lift” the physical matter we used to perform the mitzvah from the physical into the realm of the spiritual. By contributing the items needed for the construction of the Mishkan, they “elevated” it to a higher level, from physical into the realm of G-dliness.
HAVE A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY