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Terumah ‘16

Notes for Drasha on the Occasion of Yaakov Becoming a Bar Mitzvah

I want to open simply by thanking everyone, for all their warm wishes and

offers to help in so many ways, it confirmed for us how fortunate we are to be part of

this wonderful kehilla.

The Truth is that the opportunity to give the drasha at your own child's simcha,

is very special. At the same time though, it has been a bit nerve wracking, what to

say, how to say it, how to balance wearing the Rabbi hat and father hat,these

questions have been weighing on my mind.

A bar mitzvah is the end of a stage of life and the beginning of a new and very

exciting one. In that sense it's closely related to a commencement ceremony, the

graduation from one level and the beginning of a new one. That, combined with my

affinity for commencement addresses has served to guide me this morning.

I'd like to share four of the core values that I believe are essential for the life

of a Jew. They are appropriate as one begins the period of obligation in mitzvos, but

are certainly equally relevant to those who have long been living this stage of life and

even those who have not yet reached the gil hamitzvos.

The focus of Parshas Teruma is on the imperative of building the structure and

the vessels of the mishkan, v'asu li mikdash v'shachanti b'socham, make for me a

mikdash and I will dwell amongst them. The mefarshim point out the incongruity in

the passuk, the subject seems to be the mikdash and yet the conclusion of the passuk

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does not say and I will dwell, b'socho, in it, rather b'socham, in them- in the plural,

there was only one mishkan, so what does “them” refer to?.

Rav Chaim volozhiner in his Nefesh Hachaim understands from this that the

goal of the mikdash was not simply, for Hashem's shechina to rest in the mikdash,

rather it was to give a blueprint of how to bring Hashem's presence into the people.

By making ourselves into a mikdash, into a place where Hashem wants his shechina to

rest, the shechina will ultimately rest in the person's heart. V'shachanti b'socham, in

the people themselves.

The kotzker once asked his talmidim "Where is God to be found?" . His talmidim

answered, "Everywhere." The kotzker responded "No,", "God is found where you let

Him in."

So that is our question.

How do we let Him in?

If the mikdash is the model then I believe that by looking at details of the

mishkan we can understand what steps are important to let the shechina into our

lives.

Donations must be given to the mikdash, מאת כל איש אשר ידבנו לבו , from each

man whose heart moves him. Was it an obligation? Voluntary? What does the

description of whose heart moves him add?

The details of this donation are debated, but it appears that the Torah is

focusing on teaching and highlighting for us an aspect of the giving. Not everyone’s

gift will be the same. Not just in amount, but the heart behind it, kol asher yidvenu

libo. Rav Pinchas Friedman suggests that the Torah is highlighting a much broader

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concept than just giving a donation to the mishkan- everyone must give from what is

unique to him or her. Every person is different and can contribute in different wayssometimes

we can be obligated to give one cookie cutter amount- a machatzis

hashekel- but that isn’t each person from the heart. It’s a different type of gift, it

requires taking that which is unique that Hashem has given you and incorporating it in

His service. Chazal tell us that a person can only succeed in learning ,במקום שלבו חפץ

in a place that his heart desires, in what he's interested in learning. But what

determines that? We know, different people enjoy different topics or areas of

learning, halacha, bekius, b'iyun, chasidus- Why? Because everyone is wired

differently and has his or her own kochos hanefesh.

We are tasked in life with asking ourselves, what unique contributions can we

make. “Hashem gave me talents, how can I use them to serve Him and better the

world?” He put me here to do things no one else can, what's my task? What's special

about me? Chanoch lana’ar al pi darko, explains the Gr”a, don’t try to teach a child

to change his nature, rather how to harness it, how to use it, how to channel it.

That’s the first lesson- don’t always look to what others are doing and simply

copy it- look within yourself- know what you enjoy, what strengths you have and use

them to serve Hashem, better yourself and the world around you.

Second, The Torah lists many raw materials necessary for construction

beginning with gold, silver and copper all the way down to the oils. The Ba’alei

hatosfos point out that two items do NOT belong. All the raw materials listed are

needed for the construction of the physical edifice, structure, of the mishkan, but not

the oil and the ktores, they were used in the service of the mishkan. Perhaps, that’s

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enough of a reason to include them in the list? No, if that was the case, it should say

wheat for the lechem hapanim or wood for the mizbeach! Why were these two items

mentioned?

The ba’alei Tosfos explain that these items were different, because it isn’t

proper for a King to enter somewhere without light and without a beautiful scent

being infused into the dwelling. These items were included because they enhanced

the structure, they provided the environment, the אוירה . What an amazing idea! You

can build the mishkan as commanded by Hashem, dedicated for that purpose, but

without preparing a proper environment, the shechina won’t dwell.

The environment we choose for ourselves impacts us, in a very real way. We

can’t say “I know what’s right, I know what to do” and try to live or work amongst

those who undermine that- it seeps in, it leaves an impact. To grow and thrive

requires setting up the externals to be in sync with the values we hold dear. If we

want the shechina to dwell we have to be part of a positive environment. A place of

chessed, of torah, of middos tovos. Somewhere where people don’t look at you

askance for smiling and saying good morning or good Shabbos to someone you don’t

know. Always try to surround yourself with people looking to grow and leave a positive

impact.

Third, the keruvim. How strange that in the most holy place in the entire

world Hashem commands us to put statues?! The keruvim are so counter intuitive in

light of what the Torah prohibits in the aseres hadibros- we are not allowed to make

any graven images- yet they are on the aron in the kodesh hakadashim. They must

serve a vital importance.

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והיו הכרובים פורשי כנפים למעלה סוככים בכנפיהם על הכפרת ופניהם איש אל אחיו וגו׳

ונועדתי לך שם מבין שני הכרובים...

Its wings pointed up, it’s attached to the kapores, situated on top of the aron,

they have the face of children, they face each other and the shechina emerges from

between them. What are we to make of all of those details?

The Shemen haTov explains that that there is a beautiful message tucked away

here. We always need to be pointing upwards trying to soar, to accomplish more, to

reach the peaks, just as those wings of the keruvim pointed heavenward. In order to

do that you need to be connected to the aron, to the Torah within it. The Torah must

be our guide. But even that is not enough. The torah is teaching us, you should try to

grow, become great, but never look down on anyone else, never be an elitist. You

need two keruvim and pneihem ish el achiv, looking at each other, the same levelyour

arms can be pointed upwards, but never judge anyone else until you are in their

shoes, and you never will be in their shoes. The easiest way to grow, is by pushing

down all of those around you. The Torah is reminding us, that can't be. Set your goals,

reach for the stars, but don't be concerned about what others are doing, don't assume

you know what's going through someone else's mind. A proper religious life needs a

harmony between bein adam l'makom and bein adam l'chaveiro. It's only then when

you can grow, but look everyone else in the face, even be able to give them a hug,

that the shechina speaks from that place.

Finally, why are the kerashim identified with the “hey hayediah” the identifying

hey, as if they refer to specific kerashim- boards- just make boards that fit the

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instructions. Rashi explains that it teaches us that they used specific wood, the erez

wood that Yaakov avinu planted in mitzrayim for the very purpose of carrying it out

from mitzrayim to use in the mishkan. Kli yakar comments gematria……

הקרשים למשכן = יעקב אבינו נטע להם ארזים במצרים

How do you like that one! Do the math later when you have a chance!

Why was it so significant for Yaakov to plant this wood for his children and to

instruct them to carry it out? Rashi says the tachash was miraculously created in the

midbar for the purpose of being used in the mishkan- similarly Hashem could have

made them wood in the midbar- so there must have been a reason Yaakov to trouble

himself to plant these tress and instruct his children to take them out of Egypt with

them?

I believe the answer is two fold. As a new period in time was beginning for the

Jewish people, one which included avodas hamishkan, Yaakov wanted to remind the

Jews, don’t think the world started with you, you’re part of something bigger, you’re

part of a nation- don’t forget to look back at your avos and what they’ve laid before

you. The walls of this very mishkan, the walls that really make it into a structure,

precede each and every one of you they are made from wood of trees planted by

Yaakov in Egypt hundreds of years ago.

Simultaneously though, Yaakov also is teaching them to always be forward

thinking, lay the groundwork for tomorrow. Just because I personally won't see the

mishkan doesn't mean I can't plan what's best for my children ahead, says Yaakov. You

can’t live in the moment.

How do you accomplish both of these lessons Yaakov tried to impart?

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Consult those who are older than you, who are more experienced, who are

more knowledgeable and act decisively in a way that will not only better the moment

but beyond. Make decisions through the lens of knowing you are a link in an unbroken

chain, one that has many links before it and one that continues on past you.

Yaakov, becoming a bar mitzvah is a big responsibility. Living in the spotlight certainly

makes it no easier (sorry about that), but I know you very well and am confident as is

Ima that you have the potential and are up to the task of joining the ranks of the

greatest of our people.

With these four lessons:

1) Using your own unique talents to serve Hashem and better the world

2) Your surroundings impact you, make sure to surround yourself with positive

influences.

3) Never look down or judge anyone else, no matter how great you’ve become

4) To know the world didn’t begin on your birthday 13 years ago, you are part of

something bigger a rich mesorah- always seek counsel of those your senior and

act in a way that not only is the best in the moment, but will leave a positive

impact on tomorrow as well. It’s your job to make the world realize what it

was missing before you were born!

These are four lessons, crucial values derived from the details of the mishkan,

pesukim you've toiled over for over a year and read so beautifully this morning. We

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are so proud of you and can't wait to see that which with Hashem's help is in store

for you.

You should be zoche to the fulfillment of the words of the Sefer haChareidim, בלבבי

משכן אבנה , to have the shechina rest inside you, to always sanctify the Great name

of Hashem, His Torah and His people and be a source of nachas to me, Ima, our

family and each and every one of us here today. Mazel tov!