Terumah – Peninim on the Torah

“And they shall make an ark of shittim wood… and you shall plate it with pure gold, from inside and out shall you plate.” (25:10,11)

In the Talmud Yuma 72b Chazal emphasize that one must cultivate an inner purity. They derive this from the Aron Ha’Kodesh, the symbol of Torah. It was to be plated with pure gold, inside and out. Chazal infer from this pasuk that “any talmid chacham, Torah scholar, whose inner essence is not in consonance with his outward purity/appearance can not justifiably be considered a talmid chacham. One must be “tocho k’baro,” maintain a symmetry between his essence and the image he projects. All too often, we focus upon our external image and the impression we make upon others, while we…

Home -> 5757 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5757

“And they shall make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them.” (25:8)

The Midrash tells us that when Moshe was commanded to build a Sanctuary for Hashem, he trembled and asked, “How can a man make a house for G-d if even the heavens cannot contain You?” Hashem responded, “I do not ask them to make anything commensurate with My capacity. I ask of them only that they build in accordance with their own capacity.” The words of the Midrash, are ojf hpk, “according to their own unique abilities.” They must attain their own potential – theirs and not another’s! When Hashem asked Moshe to sacrifice upon the Mizbayach, Moshe asked, “If…

Home -> 5757 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5757

“And shittim wood.” (25:5)

Rashi cites the Midrash that explains how Bnei Yisrael were able to secure shittim wood in the desert. These trees did not grow all over the wilderness. Yaakov Avinu had brought these cedars to Egypt. He “saw” that one day his descendants would leave Egypt and build a Mishkan which would require this type of wood for its construction. Let us take a moment to think about Yaakov’s foresight. He prepared for his children’s spiritual future. What about their material/physical existence? What did he provide for them? Nothing! Indeed, Bnei Yisrael are lauded for following Hashem into the desert, trusting…

Home -> 5757 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Terumah, 5757

“And tachash skins and shittim wood.” (25:5)

Rashi says that the Mishkan, its vessels, and the priestly garments were made from thirteen types of raw materials. When we count the materials, however, we find that there were actually fifteen. The commentators offer a number of explanations to reconcile this disparity. Interestingly, Rashi questions the desert origin of two of these materials. Rashi specifically wonders how Bnei Yisrael were able to obtain the shittim wood and the tachash skins in the desert. He explains that Yaakov Avinu brought the shittim wood to Egypt for the sole purpose of using it in the future Mishkan. The tachash was a…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Terumah -> 5757

“And they shall make an ark of shittim wood… and you shall plate it with pure gold, from inside and out shall you plate.” (25:10,11)

“And they shall make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them.” (25:8)

“And shittim wood.” (25:5)

“And tachash skins and shittim wood.” (25:5)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!