B"H
Monday, Shevat 29, 5776 / February 8, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR
This week's Parsha, Terumah, begins, "And G-d spoke to Moshe saying: 'Speak to the Children of Israel, that they take for Me a contribution. Of every man whose heart inspires him to be generous, you shall take my contribution.” The contributions were for the sake of building the Tabernacle (Mishkan) – a sanctuary for G-d. The Torah enumerates 15 articles which were needed for the Mishkan.
G-d told Moshe, "And they shall make Me a sanctuary so that I shall dwell among them."
The Mishkan traveled with the people wherever they went throughout their 40 years in the desert. Before proceeding on a journey, they would dismantle the Mishkan and erect it again where they rested. They brought it with them when they entered Israel, where they built a permanent sanctuary. King Solomon built the first Beth HaMikdash (Holy Temple) on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which stood for 410 years. The second Beth HaMikdash, built by Ezra the Scribe, stood for 420 years. The Third Beth HaMikdash, which will be built with the coming of Moshiach, may it be speedily in our days, will be located on the exact same site as the first two.
Q.Why does the commandment to build a sanctuary come right after the Parsha of Yitro and Mishpatim, which speak about G-d's giving the Torah to the people of Israel?
A.The Midrash explains this with a parable: A king had an only daughter whom he loved dearly. She married a prince who lived in a far away land. When the king realized that his only child was about to move away, he said to his son-in-law, "You know how much I love my daughter. All this time, I enjoyed her company greatly and now I will miss her. Thus, I ask of you only one favor: Wherever you and my daughter will live, please build a home for me next to yours, so that I can come and stay near you."
The same, says the Midrash, is with the Torah and the people of Israel. For thousands of years, the Torah had been with G-d. Now that G-d gave it to the Jewish people, He requested that they build him a dwelling place so that He could be among them.
When G-d told Moshe, "And they shall make Me a sanctuary so that I shall dwell among them," Moshe was puzzled. "You fill the entire heaven and earth! There is no place void of you. How can we, mortal beings, build a dwelling place for you?"
G-d replied, "I do not ask that you build a sanctuary according to My capacity but rather according to yours. All I ask is that you do the best you can. That will suffice and I will rest my glory among you."
Our sages teach us that G-d doesn't expect of us to accomplish the impossible. However, G-d does expect of us to utilize the gifts He gave each of us to achieve our full potential.
Tonight(Monday night), through Tuesday and Wednesday, is Rosh Chodesh Adar 1.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY