Dvar Torah Parashat Terumah

Dedicated Leilui Nishmat Shaul Ben Salcha and Salcha bat Lulu, Charles and Sally Sultan A’h

By Their Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren

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Parashat Terumah / Shabbat Shekalim / Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Adar

The Best Investment Plan

In last week’s parasha we discussed many of the commandments between man and man, between others and ourselves. This week’s parasha is Terumah, and it describes the building of the Mishkan and the donations necessary for this holy undertaking. The parasha begins with the passuk, “Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying, ‘speak to the children of Israel and let them take for Me an offering-terumah. From every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering.’” Why is the opening sentence of this parasha worded this way? Should it not read, “Let B’nei Yisrael give Me a terumah,” rather than “take for Me a terumah?”

The answer is that when you give, you actually get more than what you give away, because when you give, you will receive so many more berachot from Hashem! I heard Ralph Tawil a”h speak many times about his personal experience with giving tzedaka. Mr. Tawil said, “I keep trying to test Hashem, but He keeps giving me more!” Hashem continued to bless him with more wealth whenever he gave. I heard his words as a formula for success. In Parashat Re’eh Hashem says “Aser te’aser (14:22).” This is a double lashon, because Hashem says, “Give 10% and I will make you rich!” This is the only thing that Hashem says that we can test Him with.

Many people search for different segulot for earning more money. It is well known that giving charity is an effective and powerful means of increasing one’s wealth, as Chazal teach us “Aseir bishvil shetisasheir—share income to become wealthy (Taanit 9a).” We will discuss this further in the parasha.

Fiery Hearts

Rabbi Elimelech Biderman brings the following insights from the machatzit hashekel—half a shekel coin. The Midrash Tanchuma (9) tells us that Moshe had difficulty understanding a machatzit hashekel. "Hashem took a coin of fire from under His throne, showed it, ‘Zeh Yitnu—This is what they should give.'"

We can explain that Moshe didn’t have difficulty understanding what a machatzit hashekel is. Moshe’s question was how was it possible for half a coin to accomplish so much? The Midrash (Tanchuma Tisa 3) states that Hakadosh Baruch Hu said to Moshe, "I swear, just as you are now standing and teaching them Parashat Shekalim and you raise their heads, so will it be every year: When the nation reads this parashah before Me, it is like you are standing there, and you raise their heads."

Why would such a small donation cause the heads of the Jewish nation to be raised?

The Chidushei HaRim ZT’L was once in Germany, and he heard the Rav of a shul ask in his weekly torah speech, "Why did Hashem show Moshe a coin of fire? Hashem could have shown Moshe a silver coin! The answer is Hashem did not only show him the size and weight of the coin. Hashem showed him how the coin should be given. It should be given with a fiery hislahavut—enthusiam."

Towards the end of Parashat Mishpatim, it states “The appearance of the glory of Hashem was like a consuming fire on the mountain top before the eyes of Bnei Yisrael," (Shemot 24:17).

Kedushat Levi explains, "If a person wants to know whether Hashem enjoys his service, he should see if he has a yearning and enthusiasm to serve Hashem like a burning fire. If he does, this is a clear sign that Hashem enjoys his service. Heaven helps him and sends into his mind holy thoughts. This is the meaning of the passuk. The sign to know whether a person sees Hashem’s glory and Hashem is happy with his service, the test is if his heart is burning with hislahavut to serve Hashem."

The Holy Ark

Directly following the general command to collect materials to build the Mishkan, the Torah describes all the parts of the Mishkan and the vessels that are to be made with the materials. The first item described by the Torah is the Aron—Ark that held the Luchot—Tablets and a Sefer Torah.

The Torah gives exact instructions of how the Ark was built of acacia wood. “Two and a half cubits its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall cover it with pure gold, from within and from without you shall cover it, and you shall make on it a gold crown all around (25:10–11).”

According to Rabbenu Hananel, the phrase “From within and from without” symbolizes the Talmudic dictum that a talmid chacham’s inner character must match his public demeanor. His actions must conform to his professed beliefs. The Bet Halevi derives from the reference to the inner and outer coating of gold that the community should feel a responsibility to provide an adequate livelihood to its Torah teachers. They should be generous inside their own homes, as well as in their services to the public.

The following story was told in Torah Wellsprings. A community near Monsey was renovating their Bet Midrash. They decided, “If we're spending thousands of dollars to make our Bet Midrash more beautiful, we should also invest in checking and beautifying the Sefer Torah.” A sofer reviewed the Sefer Torah and discovered that it was passul—invalid. He said it would cost five thousand dollars to fix it.

The Rosh Hakahal refused to give so much money. “I'll pay you five hundred dollars, but not a penny more.” It didn’t really make sense. He was paying tens of thousands of dollars to beautify the Bet Midrash, but for the most important part – the Sefer Torah – he wasn't ready to spend money. The sofer explained the immense work involved in fixing a Sefer Torah, to no avail. The Rosh Hakahal refused to pay more than five hundred dollars.

The sofer called up a colleague and requested help towards correcting the Sefer Torah. He said, “This community is using a passul Sefer Torah, and if we don’t fix it, they will continue using it. Let's work together to make the Torah kosher. We will do it just for the mitzvah.” His friend agreed.

On the day they completed fixing the Sefer Torah, satisfied that they were able to do this mitzvah, they began their trek to Monsey. On the way there, they needed to make a stop to use the restroom. The only restroom in the area was in a Christian cemetery, so they went there.

The guard stationed at the entrance asked for their names, addresses, and telephone numbers. The men gave the information and went inside. A few weeks later, they received a phone call from a lawyer. At first, they were afraid that they were being accused of some crime, but the lawyer was telling them that they would each receive $62,000. The day they were in the cemetery, a funeral of a wealthy person was taking place. This wealthy man didn’t have any children, so he stipulated in his will that his money should be distributed among those who attended his funeral. Being that they had registered with the guard at the entrance, they were endowed with this large sum of money.

These men made a sacrifice to help a congregation have a kosher Sefer Torah, and Hashem paid them for their dedication. The word נתן – give is a palindrome; it reads the same way forward and backwards, because when you give, it comes back to you.

Keruvim

“And you shall make two golden keruvim… and I will speak with you from atop the ark cover from between the two keruvim (25:18-22).” Perhaps the most interesting objects in the Mishkan were the Keruvim—Cherubs that towered over the Aron HaBrit in the Kodesh HaKodashim—Holy of Holies.

While we do not have an exact picture of what the Keruvim looked like, we are given several descriptions of them. The Gemara (Sukkah 5b) says that their faces were those of children, and that one had masculine characteristics and the other had feminine characteristics.

Rav Avigdor Miller asks a question in his book Toras Avigdor. To fashion an image is a terrible sin, a violation of the second commandment. If this is the one exception in the whole Torah where images are permitted, of all the images to assign for this awe-inspiring spot, why did Hashem choose the faces of young children? Why not the faces of mature talmidei chachamim or tzaddikim?

Rabbi Miller explains that the answer is that the lesson that we’re expected to learn from these images is so important, so fundamental, that it’s worth it. Hakadosh Baruch Hu made this one exception to the law of making images because He wants us to study these images of when we come to serve Him. In the book of Kohelet, Shlomo urges us, saying, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth (12:1).” Youth is the time when remembering one’s Creator will have the biggest effect. When we’re young, we have plenty of energy to serve Hashem! But we must learn from the keruvim that although youth may pass us by, youthful characteristics have no age.

Rav Shmuel Rozovsky explains further that Torah can be taught by the best Rabbi to the best student, under the best conditions, but the person learning it must have some childlike characteristics, like enthusiasm and innocence. Only enthusiasm and innocence will enable a person to accept the Torah wholeheartedly and integrate it into his persona. For those who really want to keep growing in learning beyond their teens, a childlike excitement must remain with them for their entire lives. The term we generally use to describe a Torah scholar is not just chacham, but talmid chacham. Even a great scholar must consider himself a student, not a fully developed sage.

The Ark as a whole represented Torah. From the fact that its dimensions were in half-measurements, we learn that that there is no end to Torah learning. There is always more to learn. Chacham Ovadia, Rav Moshe Feinstein, and great Rabbis of previous generations and the present day continued learning their whole lives, keeping that innocence of talmidim with them until their last breath. We have gedolim alive today who have passed their 100th birthdays but are still talmidei chachamim, a title they will carry with honor until 120.

A Painful Birth

Rabbi Eli Mansour brings down from the gemara the interesting characteristics of an “ayala—gazelle.” The gemara says that the womb for the her is very narrow, and during the time of birth the womb does not dilate enough for the baby to be born. At the moment she is about to give birth Hashem sends a specific type of snake to bite the gazelle, and the gazelle screams. From this bite she is able to give birth.

Why would Hashem create such a phenomenon? It must be to teach us something. This birthing process is similar to the birthing of Mashiach. Our Rabbis teach us that there will be labor pains, and every contraction brings us closer to Mashiach. Every great tragedy, such as that of the Bibas family means we are one painful step closer to Mashiach. It is no coincidence that these Hamas terrorists wear snakes on their clothing. Hashem has sent the modern snake to bite the innocent gazelle, a prerequisite for Mashiach.

Another sign that Mashiach is so close is the recent murders of the Bibas children. Their striking red hair has made them extremely famous. The passuk tells us that King David was “admoni—red.” May the lives of Ariel and Kfir A”H be the final tragedy before the arrival of Mashiach ben David.

May we all be motivated to give as much as we can to others for altruistic reasons. May we maintain our synagogues with the highest level of decorum and kedusha so that we may be worthy of always having the Shechina rest among us. May we learn from Hashem to love Torah and never part with it. And may we always know that there is so much more to learn and keep our childlike enthusiasm when learning Torah! Amen!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Amram Sananes, written by Jack Rahmey

Discussion Point:

Have we ever “tested” Hashem by giving tzedaka and seeing if He paid us back? Did it work?

This book is a compilation of Divre Torah from the weekly parasha classes from Rabbi Sananes’ teachings over the last 10 years along with my own experiences in those classes which has stimulated my Torah growth. I’ve included many pertinent stories and life lessons to grow from at your Shabbat table. There’s also questions and discussion points at the end of each Parasha to stimulate a Torah conversation at your Shabbat table for the whole family to participate in. Also, included is a holidays section at the end of the book to use for all of our special holidays and Yomiim Toviim.



Now available in all Jewish bookstores and Amazon!

I and Rabbi Sananes look forward to hearing your feedback.

Sincerely, Jack E. Rahmey and Rabbi Amram Sananes jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com (917-226-6276) and AmramSanases@me.com

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Le’ilui Nishmat…

Eliyahu Ben Rachel

Rabbi Shimon Chay Ben Yaasher

Avraham Ben Garaz

Sarah Bat Chanah

Esther Bat Sarah

Avraham Ben Mazal

Shulamit Bat Helaina

Rabbi Meyer Ben Chana

Rahamim Ben Mazal

Batsheva Bat Sarah Esther

Rafael Ben Miriam

Ovadia Ben Esther

Rav Haim Ben Rivka

Moshe Ben Mazal

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Yitzchak Ben Adele

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Meir Ben Latifa

Chanah Bat Esther

Yaakov Ben Rachel

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Avraham Ben Kami

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Uri Ben Rahel

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Shalom Ben Zahra

Rachel Bat Sarah

Shalom Ben Zahra

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Refuah Shelemah…

Rachel Bat Devorah

Anyone interested in dedicating this Divre Torah Le'ilui Nishmat or Refuah Shelemah or In Honor of someone, can email me at jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com. Checks can be made out to “A Life of Torah” for $101 and mailed to 2387 Ocean Ave Suite 1G, Brooklyn, NY 11229 (please put in the memo “Divre Torah”). Anyone interested in past parshiot please go to the website ParashaPerspective.org