Parashat Terumah - ‘Heave offering’

Exodus 25:1-27:19; 1 Kings 5:12-6:13; Hebrews 9:1-28

 This Shabbat we read the portion of Terumah, which begins the discussion concerning the construction of the Temple in the desert. Since the Torah is not simply a history book, and every portion has lessons for each of us at all times, we will look at some lessons from this week’s portion.

Hashem commanded that on top of the Ark, which held Tablets with the Ten Commandments, a golden cover should be placed with images of two angels facing each other. When Hashem spoke to Moshe, the voice came from in between the angels. The Talmud teaches that there was a unique miracle that occurred with these angels.

The angels represented the relationship between G-d and the Jewish people. When Hashem was pleased with the Jewish people, they faced each other. When He was angry with the Jewish people, the legend says that they faced away from each other. Although they were close in proximity, the facing away from each other showed that there was a distance.

Often, we spend time together with Hashem. We go to a synagogue, read some Torah lesson, or do an act of kindness. However, our “face” is in the other direction. Our face represents our excitement, intent, and interest. This behaviour is much like the angels who rest in close proximity but face away from each other.

If we desire that Hashem should “show us His face”, and treat us with love, care, and attention, then when we are in His proximity we must turn our face to Him.

This is also an important lesson in our relations with people.

Often we spend time with people but we don’t “face” them. Our minds and hearts are elsewhere. This is also why we forget about each other; we never “faced” each other. During the communist oppression, a teacher in an underground Hebrew school came to the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shneerson, to ask blessings for his students. Because of fear of being caught, he committed their names to memory rather than writing them. During his meeting with the Rebbe, he forgot one of the names. The Rebbe asked him, “How can you forget a Jewish child?” and told him the child’s name. At the time, the Rebbe had hundreds of underground schools, but each of them had his full “face”.

We find an interesting comment by Rashi concerning the Menorah. Hashem said to Moshe “you shall see and then make” the Menorah.  Rashi explains that Moshe was confused until Hashem showed him a Menorah of fire. HaShem showed Moshe the Menorah in the heavenly Sanctuary so that Moshe saw the heavenly reality and was then able to instruct the craftsmen to make the earthly counterpart. What is the lesson from this?

The sages say that the Menorah represents the Jewish people. The Torah commands that the Menorah be made from one piece of gold, rather than soldering together seven branches; it had to be crafted from one solid block of gold. This is because the unity among the Jewish people is because they are all limbs of one body. This is precisely what Rav Sha’ul taught in his writings:

Eph 4:4-6

⁴               There is one body and one Spirit, just as when you were called you were    called to one hope.

 ⁵              And there is one Lord, one trust, one immersion,

 ⁶            and one God, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all and is           in             all.^[i]

In His high priestly prayer, Yeshua prays specifically for those who would trust in him throughout the ages was that they should be one (John 17:21–23). This also involves that in our relationships, we promote this reality by behaving appropriately and scripturally to one another, in order to realize this unity! Messiah himself facilitates this unity by equipping the body of believers with the necessary gifts!

Moshe sought guidance as to how to bring forth such a display of unity among a divided people. Hashem answered him with a Menorah of fire which teaches us that:

1. we must warm ourselves by this inner fire
2. we mustallow the fire to kindle our inner flame, and then,
3. we consciously unite with our fellow believers so that our inner flames become one!

As we study the construction of the Temple may we immediately see the construction of the Third Temple with the coming of Mashiach.