A Community and Its Individuals, Equally Important

This week’s Parasha is composed of two portions. The decision to combine the occasional readings of two portions instead of just one arose out of the need to reconcile between the number of Torah portions (54) and the number of Shabbatot in a year (52). Doubling up Torah portions is also practiced close to reference point on the Jewish calendar (e.g. Pesach, Shavuot and others).

This week’s Parashah pairs Vaykhel and Pikudei.

It is interesting to note that these two Parashot express two different and perhaps conflicting messages. Vayakhel means gathering bringing people together and creating a community, a Kehilah. A community creates a stronger, more sublime reality, forges a sense of unity and commitment. And that is precisely what Moshe is trying to create in Parashat Vayakhel.

 The Parashah details how Moshe gathers Am Yisrael, shares with them G-d’s directive to build a House for Him and reminds them of the importance to observe Shabbat. Am Yisrael is excited and enlists itself to this important task. They contribute, each in their own way and according to their abilities. Some give silver, gold, precious stones. Others contributed by applying their skills.

Moshe’s efforts to unite the People have borne fruit. After a short while, Moses is told that there are enough materials, supplies and skilled individuals to carry out the duty. The mission of cementing a community by providing a common goal has been successful.

Then comes Parashat Pikudei, its pair. The word, “Pikudei” means counting, taking a census, tallying up. In this Parashah, Moshe is counting and documenting the vessels of the Mishkan, each one separately and equally important regardless of its size or value.

The message is clear. The process of building the Mishkan symbolizes the formation, the transformation of Am Yisrael from a forlorn multitude into a nation that shares a common covenant where everyone is an essential, vital part of one whole. 

Moshe, the great leader, was able to find the balance between the two very important, concepts underlying every healthy society, the community and its individuals. Through paring these two Parashot, we are given the tools to creating a society of shared values and ambitions where each individual feels connected and responsible for its well-being in an equal manner.

Fellow Jews and Am Yisrael, these are  trying times for the world. Here in Yisrael, the problem is magnified due to unresolved political issues. It is at times such as these that we need to join hands, cultivate our sense of unity, forget our petty ego related issues and dedicate ourselves, our skills and resources for the good of the whole.

To achieve Peace among us, we need both “Vayakhel and “Pikudei” equally.

Shavua tov. May we have a week full of Light, Love and Every Blessing.

The Importance of Terumah

Terumah, in Hebrew, means “contribution.” It is the name of this week’s Parashah (Torah portion).

Too often the word is translated to mean “donation.” That is NOT what the Torah meant and that is not what our sages intended it to be perceived as when they named this week’s Parashah after it.

Furthermore, according to Zohar, Vol. II, p. 147a, the term means “lifting up.”

What is the significance of these different definitions to one small word, the reader might ask.

The answer lies in the subject of this week’s Parashah. It provides the details surrounding the construction of Beit Hamikdash (the Tabernacle), G-d’s dwelling place among His People. “Then Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8).

Just as He created and defined the universe through a set of very strict laws, so does G-d provide a very well-crafted and carefully demarcated set of principles and patterns that include materials and exact measurements for the blueprint that will eventually materialize into His House. His instructions are very clear and for a reason.

This House will be built with the wisdom of the heart. That combined balance between mental and emotional intelligence is what will be the corner stone of Beit Hamikdash. Its construction and eventual structure will reflect the true nature of G-d. Though G-d can create a universe and a dwelling House among His People, both with set boundaries, He himself is limitless.

In other words, as we, Jews, know, G-d’s presence cannot be either confined to or openly manifest itself in our physical world. The intention, the nature and the purpose of the House G-d wishes the Yisraelits to build for Him can be found in Deuteronomy 12:22: “Then there shall be a place which the Lord, your G-d shall choose to cause His name to dwell there.” The name will be the essence of that House, we are told.

Some may stop and ask, why does G-d put forth so much detail when He describes what some may consider a very elaborate and complicated plan? The Yisraelites would surely have other issues to address when they come to Eretz Yisrael. They will have to run an orderly society. They will have to establish a proper judicial system, they will have to have a strong army, fight enemies (as their name Yisrael suggests) and many other matters. Surely, G-d could have built that House merely by speaking. After all, did He not create a whole universe purely by His exclamations?

And that is where the Terumah, contribution, comes into the picture.

G-d does not merely wish to have a House among the Yisraelites, a House that will bear His name. G-d wishes each and everyone of them to be part of this grand master plan. He asks every single member of their People to contribute, each in their own way, towards it. That way they will not be merely spectators, they will become part of it. They will help create it. Creators cannot separate themselves from their creation. This way, G-d wishes to ensure that He will not only dwell in His House but also in them, in their hearts and in their essence

That is why, I believe, the Zohar, as mentioned above, defines, Terumah also as “lifting up.” When G-d dwells in each and everyone of us, our soul is enriched by invisible wings which lift us and enables us to soar to blessed and blissful spheres which, in many cases, our daily burden bars us from reaching. It brings us closer and closer to what G-d has destined us to become “a Goy Kadosh,” “A Holy Nation.”

Shabbat Shalom