Terumah: Giving and Taking

With the Exodus and the revelation at Sinai behind them, the Israelites set out on their national mission: to build a society rooted in God’s mitzvot (commandments). One of the first tasks they are given as a collective is the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). This portable sanctuary will serve as God’s dwelling place within the Israelite camp and as the central site of worship and ritual sacrifice.

The Israelites are instructed to bring terumah (gifts) — gold, spices, animal hides, and other precious materials — which gives this week’s portion its name, Terumah. The offerings of each and every Israelite are used to construct and beautify the Mishkan, an institution designed to unify the young nation. The Mishkan is not merely a structure; it is a sacred space meant to cultivate Jewish identity and belonging, strengthening the people in their shared pursuit of God’s vision for the future.

In the opening lines of the portion we read, “V’yikchu li terumah” — “They shall take for Me an offering” (Exodus 25:2). This phrasing struck the ancient rabbis as puzzling. If the Israelites are being asked to give, why does the Torah use language that implies something must be taken?

The ancient rabbis remind us that every word of Torah is deliberate. In the Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 33), they resolve this apparent contradiction by teaching that when a person gives to the Mishkan, they are in fact taking for themselves. Everything already belongs to God; God has no need of gifts. When the Israelites contribute to building the very institution that will shape them as a nation, they receive something far greater in return: holiness and closeness to the Divine.

In our modern times, we are no longer called to bring rare metals and spices to build a mishkan in the wilderness, but we are still called upon to offer our terumah to build sacred communities. When we give of ourselves to strengthen synagogues, schools, and Jewish institutions, we are participating in the very same sacred work described in this week’s portion. The materials may look different, but the spiritual transaction is unchanged. While we invest in and sustain our institutions, we also invest in and sustain one another. Like our ancestors, when we give to build community, we are not losing something — we are taking for ourselves belonging, shared purpose, and the indwelling of the Divine Presence among us. 

Shabbat Shalom