Parashat Terumah 5784

by Rabbi Margie Cella

The outlines of the covenant have been given; the next step is to build a sanctuary; God instructs Moses to ask the people to bring a terumah, a free-will offering of all the raw materials needed to construct this portable dwelling place for God’s holy presence, promising, “I will dwell among them.” Gold, silver, copper, fine yarns and linens, spices and incense are freely offered in response to God’s request. The place where God will be encountered must reflect the holiness of its divine resident.

Following this, God gives to Moses very specific instructions for the building of the ark, the menorah, the tabernacle itself, and the altar.

The mishkan of Exodus was portable, traveling among the people, at the center of the camp as they moved from place to place, and was constructed from the voluntary offerings brought by all the people of Israel. It required the cooperative effort of the entire nation to allow God to be present in their midst.

Today we no longer have a tabernacle or a Temple; God’s presence is felt in the world when we are able to work together, shining a light on the values imparted by a life of Torah. Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh – All the people of Israel are responsible for one another.