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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5763

“You shall make the beams of the Mishkan of shittim wood, standing erect.” (26:15)

Rashi notes that it should have said, “You shall make beams.” Why does the Torah write ha’Kerashim, the beams? He explains that it refers to specific beams, from trees planted by Yaakov Avinu. He carried them down to Egypt and transplanted them there, telling his children to take these trees with them upon their departure from Egypt. The Midrash says that these trees were originally planted by Avraham Avinu. Targum Yonasan ben Uziel says that the Briach Ha’tichon, Middle Bar, which miraculously extended from one end of the Mishkan to the other was Yaakov Avinu’s “makeil,” staff, with which he…

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Home -> 5762 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5762

“They shall make a Sanctuary for Me – so that I may dwell among them.” (25:8)

The kedushah, sanctity, of the Mikdash, Sanctuary, is commensurate with the amount of “li,” for Me, that one puts into it. When we  refer  to  kedushah,  invariably  we  tend  to  think  of  something spiritual, surreal, with no tangibility. Consequently, it cannot have any effect on us. This is where we are wrong. That something is intangible does not preclude its ability to suffuse us with its properties and values. Let me take the liberty to illustrate this idea. The Midrash in Parashas Toldos relates an incident that took place during the Roman destruction of the Bais HaMikdash. The Romans knew  that…

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Home -> 5762 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5762

“They shall make an Ark of shittim/acacia wood.” (25:10)

The commentators note the Torah’s emphasis on the “they,” plural form of “v’asu” – “They shall make.” This implies that the  building of the Aron HaKodesh, the symbol of Torah among the Jewish People, is a collective, general command. Everybody is to be included. Horav Tzvi Hirsh Ferber, z.l., explains this idea further. We find paradoxical statements made by Chazal in regard to the relationship of full time Torah study vis-à-vis earning a livelihood. On the one hand, we are instructed to study Torah “always”: V’hagisa bo yomam va’laila, “Rather you should contemplate it day and night” (Yehoshua 1:8) is the…

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Home -> 5762 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5762

“They shall make an Ark.” (25:10)

The use of the plural “they” implies that Hashem’s command to make an Aron is directed towards the entire nation. Notably, this is the only instance where we find the command given in the plural; the rest of the chapter is in the singular. Chazal derive from here that everyone should be involved and, therefore, deserves a share in the Aron HaKodesh, Holy Ark, the symbol of Torah. The other vessels can be made by individuals. In order to bequeath Torah to the entire nation, it is incumbent that everybody be involved in the making of the Aron. What about the…

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Home -> 5762 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5762

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

Rashi tells us that the shittim wood had been set aside for quite awhile for this unique purpose. Yaakov Avinu planted these cedar trees  in  Egypt  because  he  anticipated  that  the  wood eventually would be needed. Prior to his death, he instructed his children to take them along with them when they left the Egyptian exile. Hashem would one day command Klal Yisrael to erect a Mishkan, Tabernacle, in the desert – specifically from shittim wood, and these would serve that purpose. These shittim trees had a history. They were originally planted by Avraham Avinu  in Be’er Sheva. When Yaakov left…

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Home -> 5761 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5761

“And they shall take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him.” (25:2)

Chazal tell us that the Mishkan atones for the sin of the Golden Calf. It is logical to expect that the parshiyos of Terumah and Tetzaveh, which deal with the Mishkan, its appurtenances and the Priestly vestments, would follow after Parashas Ki Sisa, the parsha which details the sin of the Golden Calf. Instead, Parashas Terumah follows Parshiyos Yisro and Mishpatim, which deal with the Giving of the Torah. While Chazal note a number of times that “ein mukdam u’meuchar ba’Torah,” the Torah does not adhere to a chronological order, they do not mention this axiom in regard to the…

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Home -> 5761 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5761

“And they shall take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him.” (25:2)

Horav Menachem Mendel, z.l., m’Kotzk and Horav Yitzchak, z.l., m’Vorke were both great tzaddikim and chassidishe Rebbeim of  distinction.  They  differed,  however,  in their approach towards serving the Almighty. The Kotzker isolated himself from people, having very little patience for common talk, for mundane relationships. Rav Yitzchak, in contrast, was very much involved with his chassidim, more than once imbibing a l’chaim and dancing joyfully with them. It happened once that these two great rebbes met on Parashas Terumah. Rav Yitzchak asked the Kotzker, “Rav Mendel, why do you choose to seclude yourself, to run away from your chassidim?” Rav…

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Home -> 5761 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5761

“They shall make a Sanctuary for Me, so that I shall dwell among them.” (25:8)

  Sforno comments that the sin of the eigel ha’zahav, the Golden Calf, catalyzed Hashem’s “decision” to have the Mishkan, Sanctuary, built. The spiritual disease that infected Klal Yisrael caused the people to act in a manner which bespeaks moral and spiritual depravity. Prior to their sin, they had been able to worship Hashem wholeheartedly from anywhere. He would dwell in their midst, despite the lack of a fixed place of worship. The Shechinah was all over, as it says in Shemos 20:21, “In every place where My Name is mentioned, I shall come to you and bless you.” The Altar…

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Home -> 5761 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5761

“They shall make a Sanctuary for Me, so that I shall dwell among them.” (25:8)

  A popular Yiddish maxim which is often related to a young couple who has become engaged or married is: “Der zivug zol oleh yafeh zein,” “The zivug, couple, union, should be good.” The word “oleh” has a number of definitions. The popular translation is “go up,” which would connote that “things should work out well for the young couple.” There are always “issues” when a young couple unite: personal, family, material. We hope that in due time, the situation will be a good one. The Satmar Rebbe, z.l., applied another definition of the word “oleh,” using gematria, numerical equivalent/value….

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Home -> 5761 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5761

“You shall make the beams of the Mishkan of shittim wood, standing erect.” (26:15)

Rashi notes that it should have said, “You shall make beams.” Why does the Torah write ha’Kerashim, the beams? He explains that it refers to specific beams, from trees planted by Yaakov Avinu. He carried them down to Egypt and transplanted them there, telling his children to take these trees with them upon their departure from Egypt. The Midrash says that these trees were originally planted by Avraham Avinu. Targum Yonasan ben Uziel says that the Briach Ha’tichon, Middle Bar, which miraculously extended from one end of the Mishkan to the other was Yaakov Avinu’s “makeil,” staff, with which he…

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