Parshas Terumah
L’Dovid Mizmor
5781
ISSUE 2
To receive by email, email info.syoitzer@gmail.com
Translated and edited by S. Hirsch For any questions, call 07858361928 This issue has been sponsored: Mazel Tov to Family
ברוך דוד הכהן בערגערon the birth of their son!
תרומה
The First step to Connect ְּבנֵּי י ִש ְָּראֵּל ְּוי ִ ְּקחּו לִי תְּ רּומָ ה-דַ בֵּר אֶל Donating only לשמה As we begin the סדרה, the first point which needs our attention, is what the word ליis telling us. Because, as we know, everything belongs to the רבש''ע. So, what exactly are we achieving, and what is Hashem stressing by saying “ – ויקחו ליand they shall take for me”? Surely, we are not presenting Hashem with anything He didn’t have originally. So what is the nature of these words, and the accompanying ?מצוה רש''י, as explained by the גור אריהimmediately addresses this point, and tells us that indeed, the simple translation, is not the meaning. So what does it mean? “ – ויקחו לי תרומהand you shall take with the intent and purpose of Me.” Meaning, that the separation and donation to the משכןwas to be לשמה. The problem arises, when we remember the famous quote of ( רב יהודה: )פסחים נ,לעולם יעסוק אדם בתורה ובמצות שלא לשמה !שמתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמהA person should endeavour to perform the תורהnot being לשמה. And then through that grow to לשמה. Why then, is the donating to the משכןdifferent? Why the necessity for ?לשמה
However, the מהר''לmakes the following observation. This תרומהof the משכןcollection is unique, and unlike the other two. In the fact that regarding the others, we find no indication that they had to be done with “”נדיבות לב, heartfelt generosity. However, this instance of donation was to be done wholeheartedly. And of course, we have to understand; why indeed was this necessary here? Why wholeheartedly?
We Force for מחצית השקל The third question, is from a )הלכות שקלים פ''א הל''ט( רמב''ם where he paskens that for the annual מחצית השקלwe can use means and methods of force to get someone to donate his half שקל.
But why was this one not taken by force too?
The Rov’s משלוח מנות The Dubno Maggid, in his inimitable way brings a משל, with which we can understand the theme presented in the פסוקים: There was a large town which was led by one Rov. The Rov had good property investments and was extremely well-to-do.
Donations only heartfelt Our second point to address, is the following; רש''י mentions two other “ ”תרומותthat were given, as described elsewhere in the תורה.
In this town lived a fellow, who, like the Rov, was very wealthy. But he was as stingy as he was rich. He was the classic miser. Purim came around, and as was customary, all the townspeople presented their personal משלוח מנותto their
© 2021 Sunderlandysehivaoitzer.co.uk
beloved Rov. Each one he accepted with delight, and ברכותThey had shown their deep longing for a closeness with to the giver. the בורא עולם. They had symbolised their love. And this miser, feeling he had no choice, since after all; he was part of town, also wrapped up a nice arrangement and went over to the house of the Rov, and with a heavy heart to part with his precious money, handed it to him. But strangely enough, the Rov took it and returned it right back! The man was flabbergasted!
And now, forever more, we can know that the innermost feelings of a Jew are ones of closeness and yearning for the קשרwith The רבש''ע. And however much they may hide it, by refusing to give half a שקל, it’s there. Deep in their heart.
Buying ?מצות
“Ahem,” he coughed. “my dear Rov. I realise that you And this can all be summed up by a wonderful piece from must know that my intentions aren’t the greatest. ר' אהרן קוטלר. “But I don’t understand! Why don’t you take it anyway? The פסוקsays ( ח,”חכם לב יקח מצות“ )משלי י, where the word After all, I was מקייםthe מצוהof משלוח מנות. So why don’t יקחmeans to buy. Asks R’ Aharon, we buy ?מצותWe do you accept my משלוח מנותregardless of my intent?” !מצותWhat is the meaning of the ?פסוק The Rov replied with a smile beneath his white beard, “You’re right. You were indeed מקייםthe מצוה.
The Influence of a מצוה “ But tell me something; what do I need everyone’s And the answer is, a מצוהis a symbol of our love to the presents for? I have plenty of my own money! רבש''ע, it isn’t merely the plain act of shaking לולבor eating “The answer is, that the idea of משלוח מנותis to symbolise ;מצהrather it’s an act that shows the true feelings of a Yid. the connection we have, the love of one another, our אחדות and friendship. It isn’t just a monetary assistance. No no But even more than that; it increases our bond, and deepens our connection with !הקב''הThat is the essence of no, it’s a sign and symbol of friendship and loyalty. a מצוה. “So really, the משלוח מנותis totally dependent on your intentions and thoughts. Because all it is, is a token of So, yes, we are doing the מצוה. But just the action is a small part of it. But through the action, we can profit friendship. tremendously; we are showing the true feelings inside of “So for everyone else’s, my acceptance showed my return us, and making them stronger! So the מצותare, in effect, a of friendship. As far as yours goes, all it is, is some ‘stuff’. great buy! I don’t need ‘stuff’; I have plenty of my own. Take it back.” Make The First Move ' הDoesn’t need our ‘stuff’
What do we learn from this?
Says the Dubno Maggid; הקב''הowns the universe. He doesn’t need my silver; He doesn’t lack your gold. Why then, does He want a donation? For us. For us to show our love, to strengthen our bond and to deepen our connection.
A אידdoes the first move, if we do that first jump, already we have shown the desire for a connection. Once we show our willingness, the road becomes clearer, Hashem helps us travail the difficulties, and guides us!
It is the symbol of dedication. So by definition, it had to be As is the famous quote from “ חז''ל,פסחו לי פסח כפסחו של מחט given with free will! To force someone to give a gift of ”!ואני אפתך לך פסח כפסחו של אולםOpen up for [my מצותa willingness] like the prick of a needle, and I’ll enlarge it to love makes it totally meaningless. the size of a hall. The Outpour and Outcome And in fact, כלל ישראלcame to give; and didn’t stop! משה had to command them to stop the outpour!
© 2021 Sunderlandysehivaoitzer.co.uk
~ !~ א גוט שבת