Terumah

Parashat Terumah – Holy Undertakings

Most of the next five parashiyots detail the building of the mishkan  which served all the sacrificial

duties until the Beit Hamikdash was actually built. The building of the mishkan was prefaced with the

following command: “And they shall make for me a Tabernacle, and I will dwell amongst them ”. Rashi

explains that when Hashem said “for me” he was instructing that the activity should be done lishma (for

Hashem’s name), in other words, with a constant awareness of kedusha while performing the mitzvah.

This is not the only mitzvah that must be done lishma; others include writing a sefer Torah, tefillin,

mezuzot, or even a get (bill of divorce), but it is nonetheless unique in its significance – if the activity was

not done lishmah, Hashem would not rest his shechinah there!

Indeed, the pasuk details 13 items required in order to build the mishkan and create the garments of the

kohanim, including gold, silver, copper, blue wool and red thread, amongst others. The Sforno points out

that the pasuk stresses that only these items could be brought and not any others, even if it were an

item whose value could be used to purchase these items. Again, we encounter the idea that the building

of the mishkan had to be exactly as Hashem commanded in order for its desired outcome to take effect.

The Rambam (Hilchot Beit Habechira 1:20) writes that the Beit Hamikdash must also be built from the

very beginning lishmah. Consequently, he rules that if one of the utensils is made for mundane

purposes, it can never be put to sacrificial use. Additionally, once a utensil has been used in the Temple

service, it may never be used for mundane matters. 

The Importance of a Firm Beginning

How are we to understand the above concept? Why was Hashem so particular regarding this mitzvah

that it had to be done with the correct intentions and in the precise manner that was outlined, to the

extent that if it would not be so, the shechinah would not rest there? 

It would appear to suggest a simple but powerful idea, outlined in many  sefarim of mussar. Anything

that involves extra holiness must be done for the sake of heaven, and must be undertaken from the

onset with extreme precision and concentration. When something holy is performed, it must have a

strong foundation holding it up, and when this is the case, the rest of the building will stand firm and

stable. 

As said in  last week’s Parasha, the Bnei Yisrael came out of Egypt in order that they would serve

Hashem and be His chosen nation. The method in which they would serve Hashem would manifest itself

first and foremost in the mishkan, where Hashem’s presence would most acutely be felt here on this

physical earth. Because of this, it was of utmost importance that the way in which this would be

achieved would be performed with clarity and precision, in order that such a monumental and holy

building could rest firmly on solid and stable foundations. 

Rabbi Gad Bouskila