Bs”d
Parshas Teruma (5767)
By Mordechai Dolinsky
Viyikchu li teruma—Hashem wants us to give of ourselves. In our generation there are various manifestations of this concept of self-sacrifice in many areas of serving Hashem that personify the giving of ourselves.
Have a simchadike wonderful Shabbos.
Bs”d
Parshas Teruma (5766)
By Mordechai Dolinsky
Hashem commands “viyikchu li truma”—take Me; the conventional concept of the Mishkan is associated with the pillar of avoda, The Medrash quotes a Chazal—a king marries off his daughter who he loves immensely; he simply can’t release her. And there is no way he can keep the couple from going out to start their life together. The only solution is that he begs them to have an extra room so that he can always be with them.
Hashem is absolutely one with the Torah. This is why one who constantly learns has no need to pray. The very concept of the Medrash of the King being unable to separate himself from his daughter—the Torah. The room is the Mishkan and the Bais HaMikdash; not the pillar of avoda rather the brilliant light of the Torah of Hashem and His Oneness with the Torah.
This shows itself today in the special, Divine help we see in our Torah accomplishments and the miraculous materialistic gifts of opportunity which enables us to learn.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Parshas Teruma: Conventionality and Structure (5760)
By Mordechai Dolinsky
This is the Parsha of instructions of the construction of the Mishkan. Despite the fact that it is dry and technical it is surprisingly full of rich, meaningful and inspirational lessons. For example, all the major artifacts, the ‘Aron HaKodesh’, the ‘Shulchan’, and both Altars had staves (Badim) which were used for transportation purposes. In camp it was permissible to remove the Badim with the exception of the Aron. The Aron obviously represents the center of our existence. Its location was in the Koshei Kodshim and contained the Torah. The Badim, which represent mobility, must always be in the Aron. Our mentality must always be ready to move. This is in the literal sense, not to be locked in, tied down, to a geographical location. Also in a figurative sense, always to be open-minded, to be attuned to the fact that our way of thinking may need fine-tuning.
There is another lesson which I think is perhaps is the most important and obvious, but not noticed. We are living in a period of history that the world at large has been taken over by a mentality of unconventionality. A major outbreak of this was initiated in the ‘60’s by the hippie movement; when the walls came tumbling down. The walls of manners, decency, healthy regimentation, table manners, rules of decency in dress, body care, and personal cleanliness. Does anybody remember being taught table etiquette? “So and so strong and able, take your elbows off the table”. In the Yeshiva school system we were punished if we failed to show up with a tie. Teachers even in the secular schools had to don a jacket and tie. All this formality and laws of decency are not just trivial superficialities but have a profound affect upon us.
In contrast, today, when one needs expert medical advice, the professor, the top doctor, the department head, will appear with his dungarees, pony tail, earrings and all. One can experience the decrepit scene of individuals sitting on the floor under the banner of supposedly “connecting with the Creator” in filth and under the influence of “who knows what”, strumming a guitar in song.
The construction of the Mishkan was the making of a mechanism to achieve a closeness with Hashem. Besides the holiness it was all feet and inches, meters and centimeters, exact lines and angles, specific materials, special colors and a very specific way of construction. The smallest deviation will prevent the union with the Shechina. Our Tefilin must have the exact specifications or they won’t connect us with HaShem.
All this relays a very clear message of the importance of structure. May HaShem help us to see through the recklessness of our society, and give us the insight and strength to make the necessary conventionalities and structure.
Bs”d
Parshas Terumah (Parshas Zachor) 5761
By Mordechai Dolinsky
In our parsha amongst the commandments of the Mishkan we have the menorah. From its function as a giver of light we can see the extreme magnitude of its importance. Light represents clarity, revelation of the truth.
The specifications of the kaylim, although pure commandments, have lessons. The construction must be done with the utmost precision to the contrast to the lessons, which are open to originality.
The Menorah contained goblets, knobs, and flowers. Perhaps we can say the cups represent the trait of being a “mushpah”; the ability and the yearning to be a receiver of attitudes and knowledge. The flowers are at the other end of the spectrum, the trait of producing and giving out. Both traits although opposites are vital and of the utmost importance. The knob, a circle, represents the ability to have and use both, appropriately.
Now for a thought on Parshas Zachor. Amalek, besides being an actual wicked nation is also a form of evilness that can be a mental attitude or action. Unfortunately any human is vulnerable to this even a member of Klal Yisroel. What exactly this trait is, is open to speculation and it is imperative for us to try to pin-point and understand it.
Perhaps the most important objective as humans is to use our mental abilities to the utmost that all our endeavors make logical sense. We might not always succeed in this but at least it must be out goal. Sometime we witness an individual or group doing things that do not make any sense; they make no attempt to make use of mental capacities or capabilities. To be guilty of this is an atrocity of the worst nature.
Amalek of old was guilty of this likewise was Haman, Hitler, and the cruel contemporaries. Unfortunately, we might find this shortcoming even among ourselves.
Have we bulls-eyed on the essence of Amalek?
We should be zochech to see its complete eradication and the ultimate of giluy HaShem through Mashiach Tzidkainu.
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