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ויקחו לי תרומה מאת כל איש אשר ידבנו לבו תקחו את תרומתי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5774

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

The Yerushalmi Terumos 1:5:5 states that five individuals are excluded from giving Terumah, the designated tithe of grain given to the Kohen. They are a: cheresh, deaf – who speaks but does not hear; shoteh– imbecile; katan – young child; toreim es she’eino shelo – one who contributes from funds that are not his; oveid kochavim – idol worshipper/gentile, even if he is giving money which belongs to a Jew. I was perusing through some old seforim and came across a volume of drashos, homilies, from rabbanim written some fifty years ago. From a homiletic perspective, they were quite good….

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Home -> 5773 -> Terumah

ויקחו לי תרומה מאת כל איש אשר ידבנו לבו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5773

And they shall take for Me a Portion. (25:2)

Rashi adds: Li LiShmi, “Take for Me – for My Name.” What is Rashi teaching us by adding Li LiShmi – for My Name? Obviously, if a person contributes to the Mishkan which will serve as the repository for the Shechinah, Divine Presence, the person is doing so for Hashem. What does adding His Name add to the equation? The Chavos Yair offers a penetrating explanation which has powerful ramifications for the way we should give tzedakah, charity. He quotes the Shlah HaKadosh who posits that one who gives charity to a poor man – even an amount as miniscule…

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Home -> 5773 -> Terumah

ויקחו לי תרומה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5773

And they shall take for Me a portion. (25:2)

Tanna D’vei Eliyahu says that when Klal Yisrael accepted the Torah with a resounding declaration of Naase’ v’Nishma, “We will do and We will listen,” Hashem immediately informed Moshe Rabbeinu that it was time to collect contributions for the building of the Mishkan. What relationship is there between Naase’ v’Nishma and V’yikchu Li terumah? The Admor m’Mishkoltz, Shlita, offers the following homiletic exposition. He quotes the Bnei Yissaschar who cites the Maharash Primo, zl, who questions our ability to benefit from this world. We are quite aware that Yaakov Avinu and his brother Eisav “divided” their assets, with Eisav taking…

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Home -> 5773 -> Terumah

מאת כל איש אשר ידבנו לבו תקחו את תרומתי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5773

From every man whose heart motivates him, you shall take My portion. (25:2)

Much has been written in praise of those who generously open their hearts and their wallets to help those who are in need. What about those who volunteer to raise funds for people and organizations in need? The commentators write that he who contributes charity, receives his due reward regardless of his motivation – be it l’shmah, for the sake of the mitzvah or the person and organization in need, or he is acting beneficently to promote himself. The same does not hold true with regard to the one who has the “fun job” of raising money. He must do…

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Home -> 5773 -> Terumah

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם. ככל אשר אני מראה אותך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5773

They shall make a Sanctuary for Me – so that I may dwell among them. Like everything that I show you. (25:8,9)

The Mishkan, Sanctuary, was an edifice dedicated to the service of Hashem. A structure of stone and mortar becomes consecrated through the devotion and commitment to G-d of those who build and maintain it. Anything not built solely for G-d has little to no meaning. Man’s ability to transform and elevate mere mundane, physical ingredients into a structure of holiness indicates the incredible spiritual powers vested within him. K’chol asher Ani mareh osecha, “Like everything that I show you,” is a reference to Hashem showing Moshe Rabbeinu the exact form of each of the Mishkan’s vessels. Thus, Moshe had before…

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Home -> 5772 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5772

“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 -> 5772 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5772

“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 -> 5772 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5772

“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 -> 5772 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5772

“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 -> 5772 -> Terumah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Terumah, 5772

“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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