Parashas Terumah

I dedicate this to my beloved Abba. May my Father's neshoma be forever in Shamaim in peace close to HaShem .
Our Parsha this week is Parashas Terumah . The Haftorah for this Sedra is I Kings 5:26 - 6:13 and deals with the building of the Temple in Shlomo Hemalech's time as our Parsha deals with the Construction of the Mishkan . This Parsha starts with a "Va" to show that HaShem Gave these Instructions when HaShem Was With Moshe when Moshe had gone up to the Mountain for forty days and forty nights , as the last Parsha Mishpatim ended with .
The Children of Israel felt sad to leave Har Sinai where they had spent close on a year as it was there that they had experienced the Closeness of Revelation with HaShem and did not want to leave . HaShem Instructed on the building of the Mishkan so that we would make a special place , within our camp , where HaShem's Shechinah Would Dwell Among us , wherever we would go . The Construction of the Mishkan , with the Ark and the Table and the Menorah and the Altar and all That HaShem Asked to be built , would be like our part of Heaven Travelling with us . HaShem Would Rest With us in the Holy of Holies , between the Cherubim on the Holy Ark Cover , and so Would HaShem Be Among His People . The people would then know that HaShem Is With us Always . We are told that HaShem Even Had the Ark travel forward , when we were to move away from Har Sinai , so that we would know that HaShem Was Moving Forward and for us to remain close to Him , we would need to move forward too . And so we did .
HaShem Told Moshe to speak to the Children of Israel that each should take a " Terumah , " - " Portion . " From every man " whose heart motivates him , you shall take My Portion . " So this request was voluntary and thus more special , for we could give out of love and not because we might have to . Such a Giving , is always more Giving and from truly from the Heart , in which , HaShem , Within each one of us , Wants To Dwell . Though we gave in abundance , if one really looks closely at how much gold and other articles were actually needed , one realizes , that though we gave in abundance , HaShem Had to Have Miraculously Given To this project too ( Yalkut MeAm Loez ) , and so does Torah say " you shall take My Portion , " for a lot of the amount that went into the building construction here , was actually From HaShem Himself , For HaShem Miraculously Added To It .
HaShem Instructs on the portions of materials that are to be taken for this and to make a Sanctuary for HaShem To Dwell Among us , just as Moshe was Shown .
HaShem Instructed that The Ark be made of Acacia wood which was Shittim Wood , part of the wood that Yaakov carried with to Egypt when we went into Egypt . This wood was from an area that was called Shittim Waters , and at the time it was known that these waters , would , if drunk , bring people to physically debase themselves and it was near these waters that the Moabites later on , managed to entice some of the people to idolatry , through physical enticements ( Yalkut Me Am Loez ) . So using this particular wood , would be a direct block and control against the Yetzer Horah , especially it being used for such a Holy purpose .
The Ark was to be made 2.5 cubits in length and 1.5 cubits in width and 1-5 cubits in height . If we take both sides of the length and width and the height and add them , it comes to 8 , the holy number after 7 , that takes us into the realm of spiritual holiness ( like the 50th day of the Omer being Shavuos , after counting seven weeks of seven ) and if we add the height , we get 9.5 and with the cover and the Cherubim on top , it goes into the ranges of 10 , like the Holy Ten Commandments and the Ten Pronouncements by HaShem in Creating Creation . The Ark was to be made with a form including three boxes basically within each other , with the two outer ones being of pure gold and the inner one being of wood , showing us , how we must be the same deep within us as we are outside , being honest and trustworthy and truthful .The Ark represented the Crown of Torah and on it was to be put a Crown all around . Four rings were to be cast on it on each corner and the staves of acacia wood , covered with gold were to always be in the rings and never removed from it even when not carrying it , just as we are always to be close to Torah and never remove ourselves from It . Into the Ark , was to be placed the Testimonial Tablets .
The Ark Cover was to be made of pure gold and on top was to be hammered out , two K'ruvim - Cherubim , hammered out from both ends of the " Kaporet " - " Cover . "
The Cherubim were to have their wings spread upward sheltering the cover with their faces toward one another . The faces on these Cherubim , were to be of a boy and a girl , and when we kept HaShem's Commandments , their faces would smile and when we didn't , they would turn away from each other . Their wings would embrace , when we were especially obedient to HaShem . It was in the one cubit space between the two Cherubim ( just as HaShem Is Surrounded by Angels above , that HaShem Would Place His Shechinah To Rest and where HaShem Would Hold His Meetings with Moshe . The Ark would sometimes travel 2000 cubits ahead of the Camp of Israel , so as to clear the way for our path to be safe in the Wilderness , where a giant snake and other things of danger , dwelt . The Ark was carried with the poles along It's widths and those who carried it always faced it , thus those in front , actually walked backwards , so as not to disrespect the Shechinah and Aron , just as we , in Shul , should walk backwards from the Aron Keidesh , till It is out of direct sight . Such a sight to the nations , of HaShem's Mishkan and " Aron "- " Ark " in our midst , showed how we are HaShem's People , that Keep His Holy Torah and so would HaShem Dwell Among us even now , if only we would all keep HaShem's Torah Laws . HaShem Instructed , showing Moshe a picture of it , that a " Shulchan " - " Table " be built of Acacia Wood , 2 cubits its length , a cubit its width and 1.5 cubits its height . These numbers added up , had a special prophetic meaning in relation to the kings that came in Israel . It was to be covered with pure gold and a gold crown to be made all around it . This signified the Crown of Kingship . Also it was to have four rings and four carrying staves . Also its utensils were to be made . Always on the Shulchan was the show-bread to be put before HaShem Always . This Shulchan brought blessings of Abundance of food to the World ( for just as we leave the Hamotzi on the Table on Shabbos when we Bensch so as to allow us to be Blessed for more sustenance , so was the Lechem Panim left from week to week , for HaShem to Bring Forth from what is already there that He Created , for since Creation , HaShem , Who Made all things at the beginning of Creation till the end , at the time of Creation's Creation , HaShem Does not need to ever Create out of nothing , for HaShem Made all things that Creation would need , back then ) and every Erev Shabbos , was the Lechem Panim to be replaced and the bread for the previous week remained ever fresh .
The Menorah was to be of pure gold all of a single piece . Moshe had to request of HaShem to Show him how it was to be done with all its cups , knobs and blossoms all of a single hammered piece of gold and HaShem Showed Him one of fire , on the Mountain . Every part of the Menorah had its deeper reason and the Menorah stood as the contribution of the light we give to the World , when we keep HaShem's Commandments . All parts of the Menorah were to be from a single hammered out piece of gold , just as we as Jews , must come together as one nation , under HaShem and His Mitzvos , in peace and thus bring Moshiach . The seven lamps were like the seven days in Creation , the seven days of the week and Kabbalistically , the seven worlds of Planets mentioned for special reasons , the sevens in the Sabbatical year , the sevens on the counting of the Omer and the sevens , in the Holy Number where the Seventh Day is Holy Shabbos Kodesh .
Torah then describes in detail. The construction of the. " Mishkan " - " Tabernacle , " with each measurement size , having a special meaning of great and holy depth . Each plank fitted with its adjacent plank in a partnership of peace , just like a husband and wife become one in peace and love . Each plank was ten cubits in length , like the Ten Pronouncements of HaShem's Creation and the Ten Commandments .
A " Paroches " - "Partition " was to be made to separate the part that was to be " Kodesh Ha Kodashim " - " Holy of Holies , " within which , would the Aron Ark of the Testimonial Tablets be put and a " Masach " - " Screen " was to be made as an entrance of the Tent .
HaShem Instructed that a " Mizbeach " - " Altar " be made of Acacia Wood , five cubits its length , five cubits its width square and three cubits its height . This would total all round 23 , and when taking into account that the physical height is 3 cubits in the physical world and thus the spiritual verion above of this Mizbeach also has a 3 cubit height , we get a total , when the time will come for the Physical and Spiritual to become one , of 26 , which is the exact Gematrical value of HaShem's Tetragrammaton Name ' Yud Hei Vav Hei . " The width size and length size in cubits of a side , add up to ten , which again , represents the Ten Commanments and the Ten Pronouncements That HaShem Made , in Creating Creation . There were to be four horns on the Mizbeach , just like the Four directions on Earth , and so was each part made for the Mishkan , to be put in a specific place and direction , depending on what that direction signified and what comes from that direction , Spiritually . It was all to be covered with copper and all its utensils were to be of copper . A Netting Meshwork was to be made , which Miraculously never burnt or melted . Staves too were to be made for it . The word " Copper " in Hebrew , is. " Nechoshes , " which interestingly has within it the Hebrew word " Nachash " - " Snake " just like Samael that used the Snake to bring Sin into the World , and as we know , the Mizbayach , was also there for Korbanos of Sins , thus it directly contradicted the actions of Sin and Samael , who works the Yetzer Horah that pulls us to Sin . The " Mizbeach " - " Altar " represented the Crown of Kehunah Pristhood , and so , as we have in Pirkei Avos , the Aron , Shulchan and Mizbeach , represented the three Crowns in Judaism , being The Crown of Torah , the Crown of Priesthood and The Crown of Kingship . The " Mizbeach " had deeper meanings for if we take each letter of the word " Mizbeach " , being a Mem , Zayin , Beis and Ches , these letters can spell " Mechilah " - " Forgiveness ; " Zechus " - " Purity " ( Shimon Zilberman Dictionary ) ; " Brochas " - " Blessings " and " Chaim " - " Life , " all of which the " Mizbeach " could help us attain . HaShem Then Instructed on the " Chatzar " - " Courtyard " of the Mishkan , with all its lace hangings , and being within it , was like being in Heaven with its Blue Sky Curtains . The Lace Hangings were to be 100 Cubits , just like the One Hundred Brochas we are supposed to say every day , instituted by Dovid Hamelech , which he learnt , in order to stay of the plague that was ravishing in those days , which knowledge we get also by the Gematriah of these words referring to Blessing HaShem every day , as written in The Torah . The Parsha ends with the Instructions of the makings of the " Chatzer " - " Courtyard . "
HaShem Wants us each , to contribute a " Terumah " - " Portion " to HaShem , for the good of us , ourselves . HaShem Gives us so much and we give Him so little in return . That which we give Him , all belongs to HaShem . But what we can Give HaShem , is our Free Choice of Love and service to Him , to do His Will . It should be our own hearts and thus free choice that should motivate this . Then it is truly from us . So Says HaShem , " Ve ' Asu Li Mikdash Ve Shachanti B' Tocham " - " They shall make a Sanctuary for Me so that I May Dwell Among them . "
HaShem Asks us to Make A Sanctuary For Him , that He May Dwell Among us .So HaShem Asks us to make this for Him , which shows that HaShem So Desires To Dwell With us In Closeness and Love .
HaShem Wants our closeness . It is not as the nations think , that an intermediary is needed to come close to HaShem . HaShem Wants So Deeply , to come directly To us , close to us all , for we are all His Children , all of Creation . To put an intermediary between HaShem and us , is exactly the opposite of what HaShem Tells us or Wants . HaShem Wants us each to approach Him directly and for each of us to have a close relationship with Him directly .
When HaShem Asks us to make a Sanctuary for Him so He Can Dwell Among us , that is exactly what HaShem Wants . Looking deeper , when HaShem Asks us to make Him a Sanctuary , HaShem Is Also Asking us literally to make HaShem , our Sanctuary , to be with Him all the time , letting ourselves from deep within the heart , follow Him , and so that HaShem Can Surround us and Keep us Forever Close To Him . Deep within these words , is the true secret to what HaShem Deeply Desires for if we look closer at these words , it says also , " Ve' Asu Li Mikdash Ve Shachanti B' Tocham , " - " Make within me ( within you and within me and within us all ) a Sanctuary , so that I HaShem Can Dwell Among us ( His Creation ) , and within us all . " So HaShem Wants us to make our very selves into a Sanctuary place , so that HaShem Can Dwell Within each and every one of us , within , within our very loving hearts . This is a Sanctuary , that would always be with us , for it is within us , and so , HaShem Dwelling in our own personal Sanctuary within ourselves , is exactly what HaShem Deeply Wants , which is To Always Be With us All The Time , wherever we are and wherever we go , Within our hearts In Love .
By doing this , we will be making , from within our very hearts , ourselves being and as a " Terumah " - the " Portion " we can contribute to HaShem , for there is no better " Terumah " - " Portion " That HaShem Lovingly Would Want More , than that , that we can give Him , with our full heart and soul , as to give HaShem our very selves as that " Terumah " - " Portion , " every day , every moment and every loving instant of life That HaShem Gives us . For every instant of our Life , Given By HaShem , should be given to HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu The Holy One Blessed Be He .
I wish HaShem With So Much Deep Love , A Very Loving Beautiful And Special Shabbos Kodesh With Ever Deepest Love and HaShem's Closeness With His Creation , and to all my fellow Jews and all of Creation , a most Special and Close With HaShem , Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love .