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B"H
Wednesday, Shevat 29, 5772 / February 22, 2012
Shalom. I just returned from Israel. I always feel refreshed and rejuvenated after spending time in Israel. Thanks for your patience. Now, I’m glad to be back at the Torah Fax desk.
The five Parshiot, beginning with this week's Parasha, 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 their Exodus from Egypt.
The Mishkan-Tabernacle served them during their 40 years in the desert until they entered into the Land of Israel, where they built a more permanent House of Worship.
Parashat Terumah describes the gifts 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.
The Parasha begins, "And the L-rd spoke to Moshe saying: 'Speak to the Children of Israel, that they shall take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.”
Q. The Parasha speaks about the contribution which G-d commanded the people to donate toward the building of the Mishkan. Why then 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 get 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.
The great Talmudic sage 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!
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 and silver for the construction of the Mishkan, they “elevated” it to a higher level – from the physical into 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.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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