Parashat Terumah (Offerings)

5 FEB 2011

Exodus 25:1-27:19

Isaiah 66 (Rosh Hodesh reading)

I Kings 5: (12) 26-6:13

(This would be regular reading except for

Rosh Hodesh Adar ‘A’ which falls this Shabbat)

Mathew 5:33-37

The people of Israel are called upon to contribute materials for the building of the Tabernacle: gold, silver, copper, blue, purple and red-dyed wool, flax, goat hair, animal skins, wood, olive oil, spices and gems out of which, G-d says to Moses, "They shall make for Me a Sanctuary, and I shall dwell amidst them."

On the summit of Mount Sinai, Moses is given detailed instructions on how to construct this dwelling for G-d so that it could be readily dismantled, transported and reassembled as the people journeyed in the desert.

In the Sanctuary's inner chamber, behind an artistically woven curtain, was the Ark containing the Tablets of Testimony engraved with the Ten Commandments; on the Ark's cover stood two winged cherubim hammered out of pure gold. In the outer chamber stood the seven-branched Menorah and the Table upon which the "showbread" was arranged.

The Sanctuary's three walls were fitted together from 48 upright wooden boards, each of which was overlaid with gold and held up by a pair of silver foundation sockets. The roof was formed of three layers of coverings: (a) tapestries of multi-colored wool and linen; (b) a covering made of goat-hair; (c) a covering of ram and seal skins. Across the front of the Sanctuary was an embroidered screen held up by five posts.

Surrounding the Sanctuary and the copper-plated Altar which fronted it was an enclosure of linen hangings, supported by 60 wooden posts with silver hooks and trimmings and reinforced by copper stakes.

Here we read that G-D wants to dwell among His people and instructs Moses to build the tabernacle according to the pattern he was given, just as David later was given the pattern for the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Chron.28:19). Shaul tells us in 1Cor.3:9-23, that we also are G-D’s building, built upon the foundation of Messiah Yeshua. We must therefore not turn from His pattern, the plan G-D has for us as His people, and turn towards the wisdom of this world! In the pattern that we were given we are told of the mercy of G-D, that He is the source of our sustenance, which is our spiritual food, Deut.8:3, Math.4:4, Math.6:11.

Even though believers state the Bible is their authority, it seems that we, today, have lost our light, our salt, and let the leaven of the world into our lives. Often we do not let the Ruach be our strength, our guide, which is based upon G-D’s word which sanctified us with the washing of the word, Eph.5:26.

Today, G-D’s people have to turn, make Teshuvah and once again become the light that lights the way in this ever darkening world. As the Menorah in the Tabernacle gave light to the Cohanim to work, so we must be fed by the oil, the Ruach, to be effective workers, to bring light and hope.

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.