HEBREW TEXTS  .  HEBREW LANGUAGE  .  JUDAISM

Our parashah marks a turning point in the relationship between the Israelites and God. Ostensibly, the new thing was the product: the Sanctuary, the portable home for the Divine Presence during the people's journey through the desert. But it can be argued that the new thing, more than the product, was the process, summarized in the word that gave its name to our parashah, Terumah: gift, contribution, offering. The parashah tells us something very profound. Giving confers dignity. Receiving does not.

What are you willing to give for your community?

I am not referring to your monthly fee. We already take that for granted, right? The question is what ELSE are you willing to give for your community to survive?

What defines the characteristics of the things around us? The use we give them or the guidelines that those who did each of those things wanted to print on them? A hammer can be seen as a building element, while others can use it to destroy.