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Home -> 5760 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5760

“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 -> 5760 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5760

“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 -> 5760 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5760

“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 -> 5760 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5760

“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 -> 5760 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5760

“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 -> 5759 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5759

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

Parashas Terumah is preceded by Parashas Yisro and Mishpatim, both parshios that focus on the halachic aspects of our lives.  Parashas Yisro details the Revelation at Har Sinai and the Aseres Hadibros, Ten Commandments.  Next is Parashas Mishpatim, containing many laws, most of which focus upon man’s relationship with his fellow man.  Parashas Terumah follows with Hashem’s command that everyone is responsible to contribute towards the building of the Mishkan.  A lesson can be derived from the sequence of the parshios.  In order for Torah to survive,  we must be willing to sustain it.  Hachzokas ha Torah, sustaining those that…

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Home -> 5759 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5759

They shall make an Ark of shittiim wood…You shall cover it with pure gold…and you shall make on it a gold crown all around. (25:10,11)

Three of the four primary Klei haMishkan, appertenances of the Mishkan, had crowns/ golden rims, decorating them: the Aron HaKodesh; Ark; the Shulchan, Table; and the Mizbayach, Altar.  The Menorah, candelabra, did not.  This fact corresponds with the words of Chazal in Pirke Avos, 4:13, “There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of Kehunah, priesthood, and the crown of malchus, kingship.  The crown of shem tov, a good name, is greater than them all. ” The Aron HaKodesh, which contained within it the two Luchos  upon which were inscribed the Aseres Hadibros, Ten Commandments, corresponds with the…

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Home -> 5759 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5759

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

The Midrash Tanchuma tells us that these wooden planks were actually the result of Yaakov Avinu’s  foresight.  He anticipated that his descendants would one day erect a Mishkan.  Aware  that such lumber did not exist in the wilderness, he  brought them with him to replant them in Egypt.  He instructed his children that when they would be liberated from the Egyptian exile,  they should take these trees along with them.  Yaakov taught his children that the future edifices of Klal Yisrael must be built upon the foundations of the past.  We must keep in mind the mesiras nefesh,  devotion to…

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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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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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