Parshas Terumah 5767

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

---

G-d instructed Moshe to build a Mishkan, a Tabernacle, in the desert. The purpose of the Mishkan was to create a home where G-d’s Divine Presence could reside. Although, obviously, G-d’s presence fills the entire world, He nonetheless wanted the Jews to take part in building a place where they could feel His presence. This physical structure would allow them to realize G-d’s presence more clearly.

The Mishkan also represented the prototype of the Jewish home, which is also a sanctuary of sorts. Indeed, the various vessels of the Mishkan represented the primary pieces of furniture in the home; a table, chair, bed, and lamp. Every action in the Jewish home is meant to replicate the service of G-d in the Mishkan.

Materials were collected for the various vessels needed in the Mishkan. An ark (Aron) was made from wood, covered on the outside and inside with gold. The ark was placed in the Holy of Holies, the innermost section of the Mishkan. In it, the Torah and the tablets of the Ten Commandments were kept.

A Shulchan (table) also made of wood and covered with gold, held twelve specially shaped priestly breads. These showbreads were baked each week, and distributed to the kohanim (priests) on Shabbos. Miraculously the breads remained warm and fresh throughout the week.

An elaborate seven-branched Menorah was hammered out of pure gold. The Menorah was kindled each evening, and remained lit the entire night.

Two Mizbeichos (altars) were also built. One was in the courtyard of the Mishkan and was made from wood and covered with copper. This was used for offering sacrifices. Another one, inside the Mishkan, was made from wood and covered with gold, and was used for burning incense.

A copper basin, the Kiyor, was also needed for the priests to wash their hands and feet before their service.

The Tabernacle itself was constructed from beams of wood, hooks of gold and sockets of silver. Elaborately woven tapestries served as a covering for the Mishkan and as partitions.

Each one of these vessels also represented some element of G-d’s relationship with the Jewish people in particular, and the world in general. The Aron represented Torah, the Shulchan represented material success, and so on. By donating the materials, and building all the vessels needed for the Mishkan, the people would ensure G-d’s continued influence.

“Let them take for Me a portion…” (Ex. 25:2)

The Midrash explains that the term “for Me’ implies that the mitzvah should be done solely for G-d’s sake, and not for any personal motive or gain.

The Chazon Ish applies this to all mitzvos. He cites an incident of a guest who appeared in the synagogue one Shabbos morning. A very hospitable person saw him and went over to greet the guest and invite him for the Shabbos meal. Just before he could reach him, however, another person approached him and invited the newcomer.

The first man felt resentful, “It’s not fair,” he thought. “I saw the guest first. He should come to me.”

But then he reminded himself, “If my concern is truly that the guest have a place to eat, why should it make a difference to me where he eats? Perhaps he will enjoy himself more at this other person’s house. It seems that that my resentment stems from selfishness, that I want to be the one to host this guest.”

Did You Know...

Holy items that are no longer useable must be disposed of properly. Torah scrolls, tefillin, mezuzos, Torah books, and prayer books, must all be buried properly in the ground. Mitzvah items, such as tzitzis, lulav and esrog, and other such items, need not be buried, but they should not be disposed with other trash. It is proper to first wrap them in paper or plastic and then dispose of them.

There are different opinions regarding homework sheets and papers, which were not meant to be kept for any length of time. Some require them to be buried, and others permit them to be wrapped and then disposed.