B"H

Tuesday, Adar1- 4, 5784 / February 13, 2024

This Shabbat we read Parshat Terumah,which is about the contributions which G-d commanded the Jewish people to give toward the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).

The Parsha begins with G-d commanding Moshe, “Speak to the Children of Israel and they shall take for me an offering (Terumah).”  G-d tells Moshe which items to take from them so that, “They should make Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell among them.”

Q.  Contribution in Hebrew is, “nedavah.”  The translation of the word “Terumah” is “to lift up.”  Why, when telling them to contribute, the Torah uses the word “Terumah” (“to lift”), instead of Nedavah?

A.  Rabbi Schneur Zalmen, first Rabbi of Chabad said, “G-d gives us physical matter, for the purpose that WE should transform the physical into spiritual.” Through this, we too, become elevated.

The Torah teaches us an important lesson here about giving Tzedakah (charity).   When one gives his/her hard-earned money for Tzedakah, they transformit from physical into a much higherrealm - into spiritual. This is why G-d called the contributions for building the Tabernacle, Terumah, which means to lift up, because that’s exactly what takes place when one gives Tzedakah (charity).

G-d tells Moshe, “And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them."

The sages note that it does not say "I shall dwell in it," i.e. in the Mishkan.  Rather, I shall dwell among them, referring to the Jewish people. Through the Mishkan, G-d dwells within every Jew. 

A heathen once asked the Talmudic sage Rabbi Gamliel, "Where does your G-d dwell?"  Rabbi Gamliel replied, "I do not know." The man asked, "You pray to your G-d every day and you do not know where He dwells?" 

Rabbi Gamliel answered, "You asked me about something which is thirty-five hundred years away from me (referring to the amount of years since creation).  I will ask you about your soul, which abides within you day and night.  Tell me where exactly does it reside within you?"

"I have to admit that I do not know!" answered the man. "You do not know where your soul dwells and you expect me to tell you where G-d resides!" said Rabbi Gamliel. 

The man continued, "We, idol worshipers, are better off for we worship to the works of our own hands (idols), thus, we can always see them.  But you cannot see your G-d!"

Rabbi Gamliel replied, "Just the opposite is true.  You see your idols, but they cannot see you. But, Our G-d, blessed be He, we cannot see Him, yet, He sees the works of His hands – He always sees us!"

UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY