B"H

Thursday, Adar1- 6, 5784 / February 15, 2024

This week's Parsha, Terumah, is about the building of the Mishkan and its contents; the Aron (ark), the Kaporet (ark cover), the Shulchan (table), the Menorah (candelabra) and the Mizbe'ach (altar).  The Torah details the materials, measurements, and construction of each component of the sanctuary.

The Aron (ark) contained both sets of Tablets; the first Tablets, which Moshe brought down with him from Mount Sinai, 40 days after the Giving of the Torah, These Tablets were broken when Moshe saw the Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf. The ark also contained in it the Second Tablets which G-d gave Moshe on Yom Kippur, after forgiving the Jewish people for their sin.

The Aron also had a Torah scroll, which was placed there when Moshe finished writing the Torah at the end of his forty-year leadership of the Jewish people.  Some say the Torah was placed inside the ark, while others are of the opinion that it was outside the ark.

The Aron was made of three boxes, which were placed one into the other.  The inner and outer boxes were made of gold. The middle box was made out of wood, as the Torah is called, "a Tree of Life." This verse is recited each time the Torah is lifted in the synagogue for all to see.

The fact that the interior and exterior boxes were both made of gold, teaches us that a person must be the same on the inside (in one's heart and mind), as on the outside.

Due to the gold content of the ark and the gold cover over it and the Tablets inside, the Ark was extremely heavy! It was humanly impossible to carry it. Yet, the ark had two poles, one on each side, with which four people carried it when travelling.

Q. How did they carry it when it was so heavy? 

A. Our sages say, it was really, "The Aron carried its carriers!" G-d wanted the people to make the effort, but once they did that, it was the ark which actually carried them and itself miraculously!

The lesson:  This teaches us that Torah is never a burden.  If one makes a sincere effort to study Torah or to support the Torah, the Torah will help them achieve their goal. The Torah carries and uplifts the ones who adhere and support it.

The name of the Parsha, Terumah, which means to lift up, also alludes to this point.  The Hebrew letters Terumah can be rearranged to spell the word; “Torah Mem.”  The letter Mem is 40.  Thus, Torah-Mem alludes to the Torah, which was given at the end of forty days at Mount Sinai and has the power to uplift the ones who support, study and adhere to it.

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