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Home -> 5786 -> Terumah

ועשית את הקרשים למשכן עצי שטים עמדים

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5786

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

The Mishkan’s walls were comprised of huge planks of acacia wood.  Rashi wonders why the Torah refers to the kerashim, planks, as ha’kerashim, the planks, with the hay ha’yediah, definite article, as though these were planks with which we were familiar (at the time).  He quotes Midrash Tanchuma (91) that, indeed, these were no ordinary planks.  They were the product of trees that Avraham Avinu originally planted. Yaakov Avinu was fully aware that he was descending into the Egyptian galus, exile.  He also knew that one day his descendants would be liberated, receive the Torah, followed by Hashem’s command that…

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Home -> 5786 -> Terumah

ויקחו לי תרומה מאת כל איש אשר ידבנו לבו

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5786

Let them take for Me a portion from every man whose heart motivates him. (25:2)

The opening command of our Parshah represents the first appeal for funds.  Moshe Rabbeinu made the appeal, but he was doing so at the behest of Hashem.  Perhaps, this is something we should consider when someone asks us to open our wallets to support a worthy cause:  Whoever is making the request is acting on behalf of an institution or a chesed that has Hashem’s henpeck, seal of approval.  Otherwise, he should not be soliciting our funds. Parashas Terumah may begin with the first fund-raising campaign, but it is far more than a construction appeal.  It represents the Torah’s foundational…

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Home -> 5786 -> Terumah

ויקחו לי תרומה מאת כל איש אשר ידבנו לבו ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5786

Let them take for Me a portion from every man whose heart motivates him… They shall make a Sanctuary for Me – so that I may dwell among them. (25:2,9)

Parashas Terumah focuses on the construction of the Mishkan, the Sanctuary in which the Shechinah, Divine Presence, would repose among Klal Yisrael.  One question requires elucidation.  The parshah is unquestionably all about the construction of a holy place for the Shechinah – the Mishkan.  Why, then, is the parshah called Terumah, contribution, and not Mishkan, Sanctuary? Perhaps the Torah seeks to convey a profound message: Holiness is not merely found in the structure itself, but in the willingness and predisposition of the people to give of themselves to create it.  While the MIshkan was designated as the place where the…

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Home -> 5785 -> Terumah

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5785

They shall make for Me a Sanctuary/Mikdash, and I will dwell among them (Shemos 25:8)

The language is striking. The Torah should have written V’Shachanti b’socho, “within it.” Rather, it writes, V’Shachanti b’socham, “within them,” which implies that Hashem will reside within them—within the hearts of each and every individual. The Alshich HaKadosh explains that the physical Mishkan was a model and a standard for how, and in what form one should create a space/Sanctuary within his own heart for the Shechinah to reside. The idea that each Jew will create a Mishkan within himself is inspiring and profound. It is also frightening. The inspiration profoundly comes from the realization of what Hashem feels we…

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Home -> 5785 -> Terumah

דבר אל בני ישראל ויקחו לי תרומה

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5785

Speak to Bnei Yisrael and let them take for Me a portion (25:2)

The Yalkut (Remez 363) relates: Hashem said to Moshe Rabbeinu, “Speak to Klal Yisrael in a manner of pius, apologetic.” When one asks for money, it is important to take into consideration everyone’s feelings. It is not easy for one to part with his money, regardless of the size of his bank account. The Baalei Mussar, Ethicists, take note of this. After all, the Jews were sitting on all the gold and silver which they removed from Egypt. Here Hashem was asking them for a comparable pittance. Indeed, whatever reluctance and pain they might have manifested, it was miniscule. Yet,…

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Home -> 5785 -> Terumah

דבר אל בני ישראל ויקחו לי תרומה

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5785

Speak to Bnei Yisrael and let them take for Me a portion (25:2)

The well-known Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 33:1) begins with a quote from Mishlei (4:2): Ki lekach tov Nasati lachem, Torasi al ta’azovu; “The Torah is a lekach tov, good purchase—one that you should not forsake.” Chazal continue, underscoring the unique character and function of this mekach:“A person may purchase an item which is comprised of either silver or gold. The mekach which Hashem gave us has both gold and silver.” Chazal quote Sefer Tehillim, which describes the Torah as containing both silver and gold. The Midrash is enigmatic. Are there no items of value that contain both gold and silver? Many…

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Home -> 5784 -> Terumah

ואל הארון תתן את העדת אשר אתן אליך

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5784

And into the Aron you shall put the Testimony that I shall give you. (25:21)

This pasuk (21) seems redundant. In pasuk 16, the Torah writes, “You shall place in the Aron the Testimonial Tablets that I shall give you.” Two pesukim – same message. Rashi explains that we derive from this redundancy that it was prohibited to place the Kapores, Cover, on the Aron unless the Luchos were already in there. There is no such thing as an empty Aron in the Sanctuary. If there are no Luchos, the Aron is incomplete; hence, no Kapores is placed over it. Chezkuni explains that the first pasuk refers to the first Luchos, while the second pasuk…

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Home -> 5784 -> Terumah

ועצי שיטים

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5784

And shittim (acacia) wood. (25:5)

Rashi quotes Midrash Tanchuma that Yaakov Avinu’s foresight (through Ruach HaKodesh, Divine Inspiration) was the reason that Klal Yisrael had shittim wood available for the Mishkan. Yaakov knew that his descendants would one day erect a Sanctuary in the wilderness. This edifice would require wood. Therefore, he planted trees when he arrived in Egypt, using seeds that he had brought with him from Eretz Yisrael. He commanded his sons (who obviously commanded it to their sons) that, when they would finally leave Egypt, they should cut down the trees and take them along. Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, zl, derives a…

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Home -> 5784 -> Terumah

ויקחו לי תרומה

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5784

And let them take for Me a portion. (25:2)

Chazal (Midrash Rabbah Shemos 33:1) expound on the pasuk’s expression, V’yikchu Li, “They shall take for Me.” The Midrash compares the Torah to a good acquisition (mekach) of which people are unaware of its value. When they consider how much the buyer paid the broker, however, they realize the value of the purchase. Likewise, how does one determine the true value of the Torah which we received? We look at the payment made to Moshe Rabbeinu: the skin of his face becoming otherworldly radiant. The Midrash further expounds, discussing an acquisition during which the seller sells himself along with the…

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Home -> 5783 -> Terumah

ועשית את הקרשים למשכן עצי שטים

Sruly Schnair
In Terumah, 5783

You shall make the planks of the Mishkan of shittim (acacia) wood. (26:15)

Rashi comments that Yaakov Avinu anticipated the need for lumber for the building of the Mishkan. Aware that wood was not a commodity one found in the barren wilderness, he planted these trees in Egypt upon his arrival. He instructed his children that when they would eventually leave Egypt – at the end of their exile – they should take the wood with them. Horav Doniel Alter, Shlita (son of the Pinchas Menachem), adds that immediately upon his arrival in what was to be galus Mitzrayim, the Egyptian exile, Yaakov sought to imbue his children and all his future descendants…

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