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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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Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich
In Terumah, 5758

You shall make the Mizbayach of Shittim wood…the Mizbayach shall be square. (27:1)

The Mizbayach, Altar, was to be perfectly square shaped.  What special significance is there in the fact that the architectural design of the Mizbayach–and for that matter, the Mishkan, the Aron Hakodesh and the Shulchan–consisted of rectangular lines?  Horav S. R. Hirsch, z”l, observes that all of nature’s products are symbolized by circularity.  Only the human being, whose mind can impose limitations and parameters upon himself, is able to create objects with straight lines and angles.  The circle represents the absence of limitation to freedom and autonomy.  This lack of restraint reflects tumah, spiritual impurity.  The rectangle, on the other…

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Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich
In Terumah, 5758

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

The walls of the Mishkan were formed of huge planks of Shittim, acacia wood.  The Midrash relates that Yaakov Avinu foresaw that one day Bnei Yisrael would build a Mishkan in the wilderness, in a place that evidently did not have such trees growing.  He took trees with him when he left for Egypt.  He planted these trees in Egypt, instructing his children to take the trees with them when they leave Egypt.  It is interesting to note that Yaakov was not concerned about obtaining the various other materials necessary for the Mishkan.  Targum Yonasan explains that these materials were…

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Home -> 5758 -> Terumah

Moshe Marcovich
In Terumah, 5758

See and make, according to their form that you are shown on the mountain. (25:40)

Rashi explains that Moshe was unable to construct the Menorah.  Hashem showed him a Heavenly vision of a Menorah of fire.  Moshe was still unable to build the Menorah.  Hashem then told him to cast the mass of gold into the fire and give it one blow with the hammer.  A finished Menorah would emerge.  Moshe did as he was told, and the Menorah miraculously emerged from the fire.  We must endeavor to understand why Moshe was shown the Menorah if he would not be able to recreate the design.  He was still unable to grasp its fabrication.  The Sefas…

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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…

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