Terumá 5777 - English

By Rabbi Daniel A. Kripper

Beth Israel - Aruba

This Parashah, from the book of Exodus, is the first of four sections that deal with the construction of the Mishkan or Tabernacle, built by our ancestors in the desert after leaving Egypt. In it we find the description of the raw materials, all the elements used with the different offerings from the children of Israel.

This is how our Parashah begins: “The Lord spoke to Moses saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering.” (Ex. 25:1-2)

The emphasis on the voluntary nature of the donations is interesting. The supply of the materials such as wood, gold, copper and silver was not the most important thing when erecting the sanctuary?

I read a parable that shows the meaning of this intention requirement for the offering to be agreeable and desirable. 

The Temple of Jerusalem was being built. The workers diligently dedicated themselves to the difficult and slow building. One fine day, a person passing by stopped to look at the work. The day was extremely hot and under that justice sun, the workers were sweaty and exhausted. 

The passer-by approached one of the workers who was cursing as he lifted a huge rock, his face contracted with effort and harshness. “What are you doing, good man?” asked the traveler.

“You can see for yourself, I’m lifting this heavy rock. With this scorching sun, the work is unbearable. No one can take this. It’s one day after another. Month after month. Year after year. Some days, like this one, really hot; others with rain and many in the cold. I curse the day I was hired for this job.”

The passer-by takes a few more steps and addresses another worker who after striking an enormous rock, lifts it with great effort to place it on top of another. “What are you doing, good man?” he asks the worker.

Annoyed by the look of the visitor and in a bad mood due to the terrible effort he just made, he answers while drying his sweat, “Can’t you see? I’m building this endless wall that, God forbid, will be the death of me.”

The traveler walks some more and encounters a third worker performing a similar task to the two previous ones. He is lifting an enormous rock and placing it where it must go.

“What are you doing, good man?” he asks for the third time.

Smiling and proud, the worker answers enthusiastically, “I am building a temple for the Eternal One.”

The three workers were performing a similar task. A task that required effort and determination. But their attitudes on the job were very different. One cursed the task. The other, resigned and short-sighted, went about his routine waiting for his paycheck. The third enjoyed the task by giving his work an elevated and motivational meaning.

This parable invites us to reflect on the meaning we each give our work, as well as on our contribution to the collective work.

In Judaism, the willingness to give with a generous and altruistic spirit has been proverbially encouraged always. The Torah suggests that the offerings motivated by a superior purpose reach a unique, extraordinary dimension.

Unlike the obligations that are demanded externally, these presents imply giving something more than material things. They are about giving with a true spiritual intent. This is the meaning of the word “terumah”. They are offerings that elevate and stimulate us to improve each area of our lives.

Without a doubt, these teachings from so long ago are still applicable in our current context. The ideal is not to go to temple, but to become the temple, finding inspiration in our path of self-realization.

Rabbi Daniel Kripper