Trumah 2023

1“Speak to the Children of Israel and have them take for me (LEE) a separation or a gift (Trumah). Take this from each person whose heart urges him to donate.” (Ex 25:2)”

2The first verses of our Parsha mention the word “Separations” (Trumah) three times. That is because there were three separate and distinct gifts to the Mishkan. Two of the gifts consisted of a half shekel coin each. One was for the silver sockets, and the other for the ongoing communal sacrifices. The third separation was of specific materials for vessels, structure, and priestly garments. (Blue wool, red wool etc. as enumerated). This third separation was akin to a building fund. Unlike the other two which were mandatory and limited by rule of law to a half of a shekel and no more, here the gift was totally voluntary and the giver could express his generosity by increasing the size of the gift.

3The Midrash interprets this opening Pasuk of our Parsha homiletically. Instead of “Take for me” read rather “Take Me”. As the Pasuk continues, “Build Me a holy place and I will come and dwell within it!” (Ibid :8) In another Midrash (Shir Hashirim) there is an equation between God choosing us as His nation (God separated us from among the nations, took us out of Egypt) and His dwelling in the Mishkan. Here the Mishkan is a sort of repayment for the Exodus. It is quite remarkable, God requested that we build Him a place because we owe Him a place. This place was initially the Mishkan (Tabernacle - in the desert and afterwards in various location in Israel), then the Mikdash – (Holy Temple in Jerusalem). (See Maimonides Laws of the chosen place Chapter one in great detail). It has evolved and is now the Beit Knesset, aka the Shul, or otherwise referred to as the Mikdash Me-at, the Small Holy Place. Others famously interpret the Pasuk as follows: “Make for me a Holy place wherever you may be and I will live in your hearts.” It is up to you to create the place within you to find a home for your Creator.

4Any way you understand the Pasuk it is clear that we are obligated to build and maintain a special “Place” for God, either in Shul or within our own hearts or both! One of the requirements of maintaining the Mikdash was not to defile its holiness by entering in a state of “Uncleanness” or Tumah. This can be relevant in our time as we are prohibited from using the shul as a place of business. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim - Laws of The Holiness of the Beit Knesset 151:1) A shul is very much like the Holy Temple and God’s presence is there albeit less. As such I would urge all who enter into the sanctuary to turn off the cell phone for the duration of the visit. The time in Shul should be for prayer, learning and meditation on God’s presence. Through honoring our small Mikdash may we merit the rebuilding of the regular “Beit Mikdash” soon and in our time.

5Have a great Shabbat!