Parashat Terumah

This week's issue is dedicated in honour of the departure of David Wittenberg from Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Y'rusholayim. David marks this event with a siyum on Sefer Yehoshua. We hope to hear further good tidings of his achievements in Torah life as he makes his way to Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Monsey, N.Y. In his honour this week's issue is a double issue.

PARPARAOS

Short Divrei Torah regarding the Parsha of the week (by Rav Moshe Hochman, Rosh Kollel, Ner Yisroel Yeshiva of Toronto) translated by Mordechai Perlman

"... speak to Bnei Yisroel and they shall take for Me an offering ..." (25:2)

Why does Hashem ask that "they shall take" rather than "they shall give"?

When an important person deigns to receive, the giver is really the receiver, for he is honoured by the acceptance. This is a concept we see in the Talmud (Tractate Kiddushin 7a) that although generally a woman receives an object of value from a man to effect marriage, if a woman feels honoured by the acceptance of a man of her object of value, the marriage is likewise effected. Similarly we find Avrohom Ovinu saying to his visiting angels, "And I will take a morsel of bread" (B'reishis 18:5) and his servant Eliezer "and the man took a golden nose ring ... and two bracelets on her arms" (ibid. 24:22). Avrohom Ovinu and Eliezer considered themselves receivers. Therefore, the fact that Hashem was willing to honour Bnei Yisroel and accept a donation from them, gave them a status as takers. (Alshich HaKadosh)

"... speak to Bnei Yisroel and they shall take for Me an offering ..." (ibid.)

Rashi explains that Bnei Yisroel were not merely commanded to take an offering but rather were commanded to take it "for Me", for Hashem's Sake. Likewise, when the command came forth to make the Mishkon itself, not merely the preparations, the gathering of the materials, Hashem again instructs them to make it "for Me" (25:8) and Rashi repeats his explanation that it must be for Hashem's Sake.

From this we can see that even the preparations for things of holiness, not only the actual performance, must be for Hashem's Sake alone. (Oznayim LaTorah)

"... from every man whose heart motivates him shall you take My offering." (ibid.)

The Talmud (Tractate Sukkah 49b) says that the reward for charity is paid in accordance with the feelings of kindness associated with it. Some give charity with ulterior motives, in order to secure themselves a share in the World to Come. Others do so from a heart overflowing with goodness. Therefore, Hashem said "from every man whose HEART MOTIVATES HIM". From such a person "shall you take My offering", the offering of Hashem. (The Rebbe zt"l of Zlotchov)

"And they shall make for Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell among them." (25:8)

Rebbi Tarfon said: Great is work for even Hashem did not cause His Presence to be felt among Yisroel until they did some work, as first it says "and they shall make for Me a Sanctuary" and only afterward "and I will dwell among them". (Avos D'Rebbi Noson Chap. 11)

"And they shall make for Me a Sanctuary ..." (ibid.)

Rashi explains that Bnei Yisroel should make a holy house for My Sake. This is an instruction to all members of Bnei Yisroel to introduce holiness into their individual homes so that their family life should be conducted in holiness. Thereby, their own homes will become miniature Botei Mikdosh. (The Rebbe zt"l of Amshinov)

"And they shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and half amos its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height." (25:10)

All the measurements of the ark are broken (with halves). The ark represents Torah. This teaches us that a Torah scholar ought to consider himself as yet incomplete, on the bottom rung of the ladder of greatness.
(Shelo HaKadosh)

"The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it." (25:15)

The poles symbolize the supporters of Torah who must always be attached to the Torah scholars. Our Sages explain the verse (Yirmiyohu 50:36) "A sword upon those who are alone (HaBadim) and they shall become fools" to refer to Torah scholars who learn alone. If Torah scholars learn alone because they have become forsaken as they have no supporters, the guilt lies with the poles (HaBadim), the supporters of Torah and they will have to suffer the consequences of that verse. (HaGaon HaRav Meir Shapiro zt"l)

"... towards the cover of the ark shall be the faces of the K'ruvim." (25:20)

Our Sages ask: Elsewhere (Divrei HaYomim II, 3:13) it says "The K'ruvim faced the Temple". They answer that one verse discusses the Temple in a generation where the people fulfilled the Will of Hashem optimally and the other where the people fell short of their capabilities in fulfilling G-d's Will.

When do people fulfill the Will of Hashem optimally? When they look towards each other. When they are interested in each other out of feelings of brotherhood. When do they fall short of their capabilities? When each person worries only about himself and his household.
(HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Elchonon Spektor zt"l)

"... a single hammered piece of pure gold." (25:36) This verse can be translated homiletically that the one hardest thing in life is that one's gold, one's money should be pure gold, pure of any stain of trickery.