B"H

Monday, Shevat 29, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 20, 2023

The five Parshiot, beginning with this week's Parsha, Terumah, until the end of the Book of Exodus, describe the instructions and the building of the Mishkan - the Tabernacle which the Jewish people built during their first year in the desert, after receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. 

Parshat Terumah describes the gifts and materials which the people of Israel were commanded to donate toward the construction of the Tabernacle.  It specifies the materials and the instructions for the Mishkan and its contents. It gives us the measurements for the Mishkan and its components.

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.”

Q.  The Parsha speaks about the contribution which G-d commanded the people to donate toward the building of the Mishkan.  Why 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 TAKE much more in return from G-d than what we give to Him.

The Talmud puts it as follows:  "The poor man, who receives charity, 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.

Q.  The Torah uses the word “Terumah” as “offering.”  The word “Terumah” usually means “to elevate.”  Why does the Torah use the term “Terumah” when speaking about contributing for the Mishkan-Temple?

A.    When we perform a mitzvah, we “lift” the physical matter with which we perform the mitzvah from physical into the realm of the spiritual.   By contributing their gold, silver and the other various items for the construction of the Mishkan, they “elevated” it to a higher level – from the physical to the realm of

G-dliness.  So too, when we perform a mitzvah, we “elevate” the physical object and become elevated ourselves through connecting to a higher realm.  

According to the Midrash, when Moshe heard G-d's request to build for Him a "dwelling place," he couldn't understand it. Moshe said, "You fill the entire heaven and earth! How can we build a structure which can contain you? How can a mortal being build a dwelling place for You?"

G-d replied, "I do not ask that you build a sanctuary according to My ability, but rather according to your capability. If you do the best you can. that will suffice and I will rest my glory amongst you." This teaches us that each one of us has the capability to make this world a dwelling place for G-d's presence.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL DAY