What is Our Unique “Terumah” –
Our
Gift Toward Building the Mishkan?
Rabbi Alicia Magal, Jewish
Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, Northern Arizona
Oh, how
much easier it would be if someone could tell us exactly what was needed from each
of us when our heart is moved to contribute to our community… like the directions we read in this week’s
Torah portion, Terumah, Exodus 25:1 –
27:19 (February 10-16, 2013). Moses receives the Divine message
that the Israelites should bring gifts: gold, silver, copper, blue, purple,
crimson yarns, fine linen, goats’ hair, tanned ram skins, dolphin skins, acacia
wood, oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the aromatic
incense, lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and for the
breastpiece. This requested list
contains both required amounts and also includes the voluntary nature of the
gifts as given by those “whose heart is so moved.”
Thus, the Children of Israel were to designate a portion of their
own resources for a higher purpose. The raw materials were needed to
build God’s Tabernacle. Rashi suggests that these raw materials were combined
for sacred use by the intention behind the offering. Beyond the command to
give, these offerings were to be a gift to God, given out of a real desire to
help build God’s sanctuary and invite the Shekhina, God’s presence, to dwell in
the holy space created. It was not enough to gather the required building
materials. Without the willing heart element, that sacred mishkan space could not be built for God to dwell there, or within
the builders’ very beings.
Today
when we want to help “build our Mishkan”and sustain our holy communities, we
are not so sure how to do that.
Certainly there are membership dues as well as fundraising efforts,
raffles and dinners, inscribed leaves on the wall-mounted tree of life, mitzvah
funds for the needy in our congregations and the wider community, scholarship opportunities
to assist families with religious school tuition, and voluntary contributions
linked to yahrzeits or in honor of simchas.
We realize that our monetary funds are vitally necessary for the ongoing,
vibrant growth of our synagogues, schools, centers, and other religious
institutions.
But I
wonder how we find out what our particular, unique “terumah” is. Terumah
contains the Hebrew root letters ROM which connote lifting up, elevating,
making our offering special, holy, a gift set aside for a higher purpose. So there is something extremely personal and
soulful connected to the contributions offered by each person. What is your “gold” – shining, pure, enthusiastic
assistance in visiting ill people for Bikkur Holim? What is your “crimson yarn” – passionate,
life-giving social action projects that strengthen connections among people? What
are your “ram or dolphin skins” – warm, protective coverings for those without
shelter, blankets, or warm coats? What is your “spice for anointing oil” –
luscious, fragrant baked goods for shared holiday meals? What are your “precious
stones” – sharing your gems of knowledge and experience to teach, tutor, advise,
or lead in your area of expertise? How
do you manifest those stirrings of your heart to build and sustain the structure
and fabric of our Jewish organizations?
We all
have moments when our “hearts are moved” to contribute, but often we don’t know
exactly how. Each of us is called upon
to fulfill the commandment to build the mishkan
in our own moment in time by contributing some of our precious and unique
resources. Each donation adds to the beautiful whole of the communal sacred
space. “V’asu li mikdash,
v’shachanti b’tocham – and Make for me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in
them.” And when we give from that place in our hearts, and offer
up our precious stores of skills, qualities, resources, and efforts, then truly
the promise will be fulfilled that the Holy One will “dwell within us.”
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