This week is parshas Termuah which discusses the building of the Mishkan. In the beginning of the parsha the word “terumah-donation” is mentioned three times. The first time is “v’yikchu li termuah- take a donation for Me” which refers to the donation of a ½ shekel for the sockets. The second time is “tikchu termasi- take my donation” which refers to the ½ shekel for the sacrifices. The third mention is “zos haterumah asher tikchu m’eitam- this is the donation you shall take from them” which refers to all the 13-15 materials that were needed for the building of the Mishkan, that were donated in varying amounts.
The Rebbe asks why the verses say “kach-take” when the term “give” seems the more appropriate expression. The Rebbe explains that this refers to the Mikdash within each and every one of us. We need to build an individual Mishkan and Mikdash with three donations. Our three donations are; Torah, Avodah and Gamilus Chasadim.
The first half shekel was used for the sockets. The sockets were the very foundation of the Mishkan. In our life that is the Torah. Without the Torah there is no guidance with which to build the Mishkan (a Jewish home). That is why the Torah says “take”. The letters that spell the word terumah can also spell “Torah ‘mem’”, the wisdom of Hashem (Torah) which was taken in forty (mem) days. When a person learns the Torah and absorbs it in his mind, he is ‘taking’ Hashem, as it says “osi atem lokchim- it is I that you are taking”. This is what is meant by “v’yikchu li- take Me” in our individual Mishkan. Hashem is saying to each of us “Take me home, take the time to become internally united with me through learning my Torah”.
The second donation for sacrifices was called “terumasi-my donation”. In our service of Hashem, the bringing of the animal karbon upon the mizbeach refers to davening, which is kiruv (a karbon) to Hashem. Davening is a time that we arouse closeness to Hashem, a time when we elevate and unite both our soul and body to Hashem. Davening is also similar to a korban in that just like a korban is burnt on the Mizbeach, so too do we ‘burn away’ our personal negativity to get closer to Hashem. While in shul, we daven to Hashem, feeling Him the Master to whom all belongs, and to whom we have a request, in that time of bonding. Just as karbonos served to achieve atonement, offer thanks and push away the opposite of good, so too do we achieve such things by setting aside time for davening.
The donation of various materials for building the Mishkan represents getting involved in the world in various ways and uniting the world with Hashem. In order to build our Mishkan we do not use only our intelligence for Torah and our heart in davening, but we use everything possible to bring Hashem into this physical world, to make it a ‘dira lo Yisborach- a dwelling place for Hashem’. For this donation the words used are “zos haterumah- this is the donation”, the physical item; the wine for Kiddush and the wheat for Matzah etc.. Through the Torah and Tefilla we can recognize the connection to Hashem, but the physical object does not see the connection to Hashem. A Yid can take that object, which is seemingly separate, and unify it with Hashem, and through that making the world a Mishkan for Hashem.
When we learn the parsha of Terumah the Rebbe teaches us how to integrate it into our service of Hashem. Every individual needs to give the three terumos to Hashem; setting aside time for Torah, Teffila and Gemilus Chasadim. With this we build our Mishkan with which Hashem dwells within our minds our hearts and our homes.
(Adapted from Likutei Sichos v. 16)