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Overview
of the Torah Reading
To be read on Shabbat
Terumah, Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, Shabbat Shekalim, 1 Adar 5785/March
1. 2025
Torah: Exodus 25:1-27:19; Num. 28:9-15; Ex. 30:11-16
Haftorah: Kings II 11:17-12:17; Isaiah 66:1, 66:23-24, 66:23
Terumah is the 7th
Reading out of 11 in Exodus and it contains 4692 letters, in 1145
words, in 96 verses.
Primarily concerns
the preparations for building the tabernacle. the Jews were commanded
to offer the necessary material for the tabernacle. Specifications were
given for the construction of the ark, table, showbread, menorah, sacrificial
altar, and their accompanying equipment; the outer and inner curtains,
coverings, beams, pillars, and outer encompassing enclosure of the tabernacle.
 An
essay from Rabbi
Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
In this
week's Torah portion, Terumah, we are commanded to make a mishkan [tabernacle],
a dwelling place for G-d in this world. The verse says, "Make for
Me a mishkan and I will dwell in you (not "it") [Shemot/Exodus
25:8]. In each and every Jewish person. This teaches us that the connection
between the Mishkan and the Jewish people is very deep. Even the
structure of the Mishkan is parallel to the structure of our souls.
Just like we have supranatural strengths like our will and the desire
for pleasure and inner strengths like intellect and emotions, so also
the Mishkan had upper coverings either woven or from animal skins,
and wooden beams. The beams, which had to be 10 amot (an ama is
48 cm. - about 19 inches) relates to the 10 inner strengths in each person.
[For details, search online "10 sefirot and human qualities].
In connection with the beams, the verse says, "And you shall make
the wall beams for the Mishkan of acacia [shitim] wood -
standing." [Shemot/Exodus 26:15].
There is a dichotomy here. The root of the word shitim is shita
which means "leaning" (because the acacia tree usually leans
to the side). This teaches us that we have an object (or in this context,
a hint to the inner soul of a Jew) whose natural placement is centered,
but can lean either upwards or downwards. This is the meaning of the word
shita.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Hebrew
word shtut (folly or nonsense) shares the same root as shita.
The beam itself is exemplary of the "middle way" - the way of
logic and reason.
The inclination to lean downwards from this path is "unholy"
nonsense and takes us away from logic and holiness and deeper into the
material world and its kelipot (husks that conceal the holy).
The inclination to move upwards spiritually is "holy" nonsense
and also even sometimes takes us away from logic but into the world of
sublime Divinity.
The downward inclination is ruach shtut ("spirit of folly"),
silliness and nonsense that causes a person to sin, as our Sages have
said, "No one transgresses unless a spirit of folly enters him."
[Talmud Sotah 3a].
On the other hand, shtut de-kedushah (holy nonsense/folly) is when
a Jew serves G-d in an suprarational manner - higher than intellect and
reason. This is akin to performing one of the commandments because G-d
commanded it, even though it may be inconvenient and makes no sense in
the worldly sphere.
What does this teach us about our work in this world? That to truly serve
G-d we have to constantly transform negative folly that "leans downward"
into "standing acacia planks" - the "holy nonsense"
of leaning upward.
[Adapted from the talk Basi LeGani said by the Rebbe Rayatz (Rabbi
Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Collected
Talks. Volume 3. Page 114]
Shabbat Shalom
and Chodesh Tov, Shaul
(for a
free weekly email subscription, click
here)
For last year's essay by Rabbi Leiter on this week's Reading, see the
archive.
FROM
THE SAGES OF KABBALAH ON KabbalaOnline.org
Specifically,
for an overview of the recommended articles in the columns:
Holy Zohar, Holy Ari, Mystic Classics, Chasidic Masters, Contemporary
Kabbalists, and more,
click to Terumah
Mystical
Classics
 Cherubs
of Gold
From the teachings of Rabbi Bachya ben Asher
The cherubs were symbolic of the fire and the thunder the Israelites experienced
during the revelation at Mount Sinai. They were both constructed of gold,
being recipients of the attributes Love and Justice. They were male and
female in order to teach that these two genders represent the initiating
force and the responsive force respectively.
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