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Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich
In Terumah, 5758

See and make, according to their form that you are shown on the mountain. (25:40)

Rashi explains that Moshe was unable to construct the Menorah.  Hashem showed him a Heavenly vision of a Menorah of fire.  Moshe was still unable to build the Menorah.  Hashem then told him to cast the mass of gold into the fire and give it one blow with the hammer.  A finished Menorah would emerge.  Moshe did as he was told, and the Menorah miraculously emerged from the fire.  We must endeavor to understand why Moshe was shown the Menorah if he would not be able to recreate the design.  He was still unable to grasp its fabrication.  The Sefas…

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Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich
In Terumah, 5758

You shall make the planks of the Mishkan of Shittim wood, standing erect. (26:15)

The walls of the Mishkan were formed of huge planks of Shittim, acacia wood.  The Midrash relates that Yaakov Avinu foresaw that one day Bnei Yisrael would build a Mishkan in the wilderness, in a place that evidently did not have such trees growing.  He took trees with him when he left for Egypt.  He planted these trees in Egypt, instructing his children to take the trees with them when they leave Egypt.  It is interesting to note that Yaakov was not concerned about obtaining the various other materials necessary for the Mishkan.  Targum Yonasan explains that these materials were…

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Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich
In Terumah, 5758

You shall make the Mizbayach of Shittim wood…the Mizbayach shall be square. (27:1)

The Mizbayach, Altar, was to be perfectly square shaped.  What special significance is there in the fact that the architectural design of the Mizbayach–and for that matter, the Mishkan, the Aron Hakodesh and the Shulchan–consisted of rectangular lines?  Horav S. R. Hirsch, z”l, observes that all of nature’s products are symbolized by circularity.  Only the human being, whose mind can impose limitations and parameters upon himself, is able to create objects with straight lines and angles.  The circle represents the absence of limitation to freedom and autonomy.  This lack of restraint reflects tumah, spiritual impurity.  The rectangle, on the other…

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Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich
In Terumah, 5758

You shall cover it with pure gold, from within and from without you shall cover it.

The Aron’s connection with the Torah is obvious.  Indeed, the arrangment of pure gold both within and without symbolizes Chazal’s dictum that a Torah scholar’s public behavior must be consistent with his inner character.  He cannot profess one set of beliefs in his relationship with Hashem while acting in a manner unbecoming a person of his spiritual stature in his interaction with people.  A talmid chacham is–and should be–the embodiment of Torah.  This should be reflected in his total demeanor. The Talmud, Berachos 28a, relates that when Rabban Gamliel was the Nasi, prince, he decreed that any student who was…

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Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich
In Terumah, 5758

Speak to the Bnei Yisrael and let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take My portion. (25:2)

One would expect that it would be incumbent upon every individual to participate in the building of the Mishkan.  Yet, the Torah’s standard is to take donations only “from every man whose heart motivates him.”  Regarding other mitzvos, the Torah places emphasis upon activity, the ma’aseh ha’mitzvah.  Of prime importance regarding the building of the Mishkan is that the individual displays unequivocal ratzon, good will and desire to give.  Imagine, had the people not exhibited pure ratzon to contribute towards the Mishkan, the Mishkan never would have been built!  It behooves us to understand the significance of this willingness to…

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