The Baal Shem Tov notes that Parashas Terumah, which contains the mitzvah of donating toward the building of the Mishkan, immediately follows Parashas Mishpatim, which ends with the receiving of the Torah. He explains that the command to build the Mishkan was Hashem’s way of telling Bnei Yisrael to substantively actualize their acceptance of the Torah. It isn’t sufficient to proclaim gnabu vagbw “We will do and we will hear,” and then return to our daily lives as if nothing had transpired. It is imperative to stimulate the potential of our statement into action. If it remains dormant, eventually it will lose its spirit and vibrance.
We may apply this concept to other forms of spiritual inspiration. Often one listens to a charismatic speaker deliver a profound lecture or participates in a heightened spiritual experience, only to let the effects dissipate. Beyond the change one experiences at the initial encounter, one must seek to sustain the original feelings. This form of emotional response is reinforced through Torah study. One who is spiritually inspired, but does not continue on to Torah study, will unfortunately remain spiritually crippled. The effort one expends in immortalizing his moments of spiritual elevation will be reflected in his personal growth and development.
