From: Weekly Torah To: parsha@torahzone.com Subject: Weekly Dvar Torah B"H "Path Markers" Terumah: By: Yaacov Silverstein e@mail: hm16@popeye.cc.biu.ac.il HomePage: http://faculty.biu.ac.il/~hm16/ Year: 5762 This Years Parsha Series is prepared in the memory and merit of my grandfathers: Rav Yitzchak Zev Ben Yisroel Mordechai Hakohen Solomon Z"L Rav Chaim Meir Ben Yakov Silverstein Z"L *****^^^^^^^***** Did you tell your friend or relative how to subscribe to this Parsha List?? It's simple, just tell him to send a blank E-mail to: parsha-subscribe@torahzone.com And it is and always will be (B"H) FREE!! Purchase books online at: http://www.artscroll.com/torahzone Download the free DafYomi Calendar - http://faculty.biu.ac.il/~hm16/downloads Pasuk: (25:2-3) "Speak to the Children of Israel and let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take My portion. This is the portion that you shall take from them: gold, silver, and copper." The people were requested to contribute towards the building of the Tabernacle purely for the sake of G-d's Name, and not because of social pressure or in quest of honor. They were to take a "portion" of their resources for this purpose. The effect of such contributions was to elevate the giver and one's concept of the purpose of the wealth that Hashem has blessed one with. There is a Midrash which explains the deeper meaning of this Pasuk (Shemos Rabbah 33:1): "There once lived a king whose only daughter became engaged to a king from a distant land. Her father was saddened by the fact that his only daughter would be leaving him to a far off land, and requested from his future son-in-law, wherever he will reside, he should set aside a room for him where he can dwell in and not be separated from his daughter." The same is with us, Hashem has given us the Torah (His only daughter - Kvayachol) which Hashem tells us that He can not part from. Therefor, wherever a Jew is in the world, he is to build a house for Hashem, so that Hashem can dwell in our midst. Not only a physical house, like the Tabernacle should be a dwelling for Hashem, but also a spiritual house inside each and every one of us. One is to open himself to let the Torah be part of his life. This can also be done by setting a specific time each day for learning Torah and in to think of Hashem's greatness. Everything in this world has some sort of connection with the Torah, for it is the blueprint of the world. One is also to find in everything a small point which belongs to glorifying Hashem's Name, and thus Hashem will always be with His Torah and with Am Yisroel. The ultimate goal of the Torah is to increase Hashem's Name in this world. One is to take the mundane in this world and raise it to a higher level of holiness. Torah is found in Everything: ===================== Rabbi Moshe Sofer explained that we can find a hint in the Pasuk, "This is the portion that you shall take from them: gold, silver, and copper." They are the "Roshei Teivos" (first letter of each word) of which days we read the Torah: Gold - Zahav (Zayin, Hei, Beis) ------------ Zayin - Shabbos (7th day) Hei - Thursday (5th day) Beis - Monday (2nd day) Silver - Kesef (Chof, Samech, Pei) -------------- Chof - Kipurim (Yom Kippur) Samech - Succos Pei - Pesach, Purim Copper - Nechoshes (Nun, Cheis, Shin, Tuf) ------------------ Nun - Neiros (Chanukah) Cheis - Chodesh (Rosh Chodesh, Rosh Hashana) Shin - Shevuous, Shemini Atzeres Tuf - T'aanis Tzibur There is a Midrash which explains that these three types of portions represent the three patriarchs - Avraham - who survived the burning furnace - Gold. Yitzchak - who was placed on the alter and refined - Silver. Yakov - who survived Lavan - Copper. By Avraham Avinu, all saw his greatness, thus he is compared to Gold, which needs very little processing. Yitzchak was at first not seen as a great person till he was placed on the Alter, therefor he is compared to silver which needs more refining. Yakov, who had a very difficult life, first with Eisav, then with Lavan, Shechem..., is compared to Copper which needs much more refining and cleaning till one sees its greatness. Rabbi Shimon Scwab explains that these three aspects are always found in Am Yisroel. There are those people who need more refining in order to see their greatness, therefor the Tabernacle needed these three metals, so that all these three Midos would be found in the Beis HaMikdash. In every Jewish soul, one can find something which can teach him how to serve Hashem better, as the Sfas Emes says, "And take for me a portion from every person...", that we should learn something from every person we meet, for from every Jewish soul there is something that one can learn from and which ties into the holy Torah. We are taught in Pirkei Avos (4:1), "Ben Zoma says: Who is wise? He who learns from every person..." When we are told "every person", it means that we can even learn from other people who are far less educated than we are. At times, one can even learn from wrongdoers. The Maggid of Mezeritch said that there are things that one can even learn from a thief. Just like a thief steals at night when no one sees him, we should give charity and help others, when no one sees us. Therefor, our acts of kindness should not be there to impress others with our "great" piety. The Maggid also says that we can even learn three things from an infant. 1) One should never be idle, one should constantly be doing productive work and not sitting in front of the TV all day long. 2) One should always smile at others. 3) And when one wants something he should cry for it. Meaning, one should always turn to Hashem in meaningful prayer. (Adapted from - Pirkei Torah, Artscroll Chumash, Pnenei Daas, Maayan Beit HaShoeiva, Shemen Ha Tov vol3, Visions of the Fathers ) --------***********-------- A special Thank You to my mother for checking & correcting the first DT draft. A special Thank You to Project Genesis - http://www.torah.org for hosting this list. If you ever want to remove yourself from this mailing list send a blank email to the following address: --------***********--------