B"H
Thursday, 2 Adar 1, 5776 / February 11, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR
This week’s Parsha is Terumah. In this Parsha G-d commands Moshe to tell the Jewish people to make contributions towards the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Mishkan was a House built for G-d, in which G-d’s presence will rest amongst the Jewish people. Mishkan comes from the word resting.
The Mishkan was a temporary structure made out of wood, which traveled with them throughout their forty years in the desert. It was taken apart when they had to travel and erected wherever they camped.
The name of the Parsha, Terumah (an offering), refers to the donations which G-d asked them to contribute toward the building of the Mishkan.
Q.Instead of commanding Moshe to tell the people to “give” or “donate,” the Torah says, “Take for me an offering.” Why does the Torah use the expression take when speaking of giving? It should have said, "Give to Me an offering."
A.Our sages explain that the Torah uses the expression “take” instead of “give” to teach us an important lesson about the concept of charity.
Although when we give Tzedakah (charity) it seems to us that we are the ones who are the givers and the needy are the receivers, yet, in truth however, it is the giver who is taking and receiving. The reward one gets for this mitzvah is much greater than what they gave. In truth, giving is taking.
The Talmud explains this as follows: "More than the wealthy person does for the poor man; the poor person does for the wealthy one."
The return one gets for the mitzvah of Tzedakah is of much greater value than what the receiver got.
The following passage is from the Talmud concerning the mitzvah of Tzedakah (charity):
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, as is written, "Charity saves from death."
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL DAY