‘Parsha Growth Spurts’
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Terumah
“This is the portion you shall take from them… tachash skins…” (25:3-5)
Rashi, quoting the Gemara Shabbos (28a), explains that the tachash was a beautiful multi-colored animal that existed only at that time, and then became extinct. Its hide was used to create one of the covers of the Mishkan.
Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita explained that the multi-colored covering was symbolic of the fact that there are many ‘colors’ and perspectives in serving Hashem. Every tzaddik serves Hashem in his own manner, adhering to the traditions and minhagim of his forefathers, and there is no contradiction. In fact, au contraire; the beauty and splendor of Klal Yisroel is that we are able to unite in our Avodas Hashem despite our variant backgrounds and approaches. The multihued tachash with all of its combined colors provided a single covering for the Mishkan and our divergent modalities of Avodas Hashem create a splendorous symphonic tapestry before the Keesay Hakavod.
——————————————————
“You shall make for Me a Mikdash and I will dwell amongst you” (25:8)
In the haggadah, in the paragraph Al achas Kamah v’kamah we thank Hashem for all the miracles and kindness He performed beginning with Yetzias Mitzrayim. We conclude by saying, “And He built for us His Chosen House, (so that we can) achieve atonement for all of our sins.”
In bentching we refer to the Bais Hamikdash as “the Great and Holy House, in which Your Name was called upon it.” The Torah writes that the Bais Hamikdash was a Meeting Place between us and Hashem, as it were. Aren’t we remiss if we express gratitude to Hashem for the Bais Hamikdash, simply as the place where we achieved atonement for our sins? Wasn’t the Bais Hamikdash so much greater than being a ‘medium of atonement’?
Rav Shach zt’l explained that if one would ask a wealthy millionaire what benefit he has from all his money, he would point to his mansion, luxury vehicles, yacht, expensive vacations, and elegant lifestyle. However, if one were to ask an impoverished person who is starving and freezing what benefit he would have from wealth he would reply that if he was a millionaire he would have food and shelter at all times.
There is no doubt that there are far greater benefits to wealth than just food and shelter, but to one who is deprived of his basic necessities he cannot see past the security of having the most basic necessities.
So too, although the greatness of the Bais Hamikdash meant much more than our ability to achieve atonement, for us in the morass of exile we yearn for the Bais Hamikdash because it provided for our most basic spiritual needs. Surely when it is rebuilt we will appreciate the far greater benefits of having the Bais Hamikdash in our midst. But alas, in exile, we pine for the ability to atone for our sins in the most potent fashion.
—————————————————
“And place the Table outside the curtain and the Menorah should be placed opposite the Table” (26:34-35)
If one were to enter the Mishkan the Shulchan, which represented physical success, would be on his right side while the Menorah, which represented spiritual greatness and the light of Torah, would be on his left. It seems incongruous that in this holiest of places the Shulchan was on the right side (which symbolizes priority), while the Menorah was positioned on the left?
The Bais Halevi explained that the vessels were only positioned in that manner when one entered the Mishkan. However, after one walked through the Sanctuary and turned to leave, the Menorah would be on his right and the Shulchan would be on his left. The experience of being in proximity to such holiness was sufficient to alter his perspective and priorities.
Franz Rosenzweig, a prolific author and a great philosopher, was a Captain in the German Cavalry during World War I. He was also a completely secular Jew. In fact, he was engaged to a Catholic woman and was preparing to convert to Christianity. He was stationed in a Polish town on what happened to be the night of Yom Kippur in 1913. Curious, he followed the crowd into a small shul just as the chazan began Kol Nidre.
Franz was so moved by the pristine scene before him that he broke off his engagement and began the journey to a life of Torah observance.
Never underestimate the power of a moment in the presence of true holiness!
——————————————————
Sources: Rav Shternbuch – Ta’am Vada’as; Rav Shach – Haggadas Avi Ezri; Bais Halevi – heard in his name.