Parshat Terumah 5783
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the beginning of this week’s parsha the command to build the Mishkan. Hashem commands Moshe to tell Bnei Yisrael to donate towards its building with the words (Chapter 25, Pasuk 2) ויקחו לי תרומה. The Medrash Rabbah (33,1) comments on the fact that the Torah seemingly should have said, ויתנו לי or וירימו לי תרומה. Why is the Torah commanding Bnei Yisrael to take a donation? The Medrash answers that the ויקחו לי are referencing the pasuk in sefer Mishlei (Chapter 4, Pasuk 2), כי לקח טוב נתתי לכם תורתי אל תעזובו. The Medrash describes the distinctiveness of the "מקח", the acquisition of Torah. One illustration of the uniqueness of Torah is that when Bnei Yisrael acquired the Torah, they “acquired the Seller” as well.
The Ohr Gedalyahu teaches a way to understand this concept. When one buys something, his acquisition is complete and totally independent from the previous owner. However, if someone acquires an entire store, he needs guidance and assistance from the owner how to run the store. As a result, the owner might stay behind, as part of the deal, and remain in the store for a period of time to show him how to operate the store. The complexity of Torah is such that we require guidance and direction as to how to use our new acquisition.
The Chidushei Harim teaches an idea that explains this concept of acquiring the Seller. The Gemara in Baba Basra 71A teaches Mahn De'Yahiv Matanah, B'ayin Yafeh Yahiv. One who gives a present, gives it generously. Therefore, it is assumed that in addition to the actual present, he also gave him a means to benefit from the gift. If he gave him a pit, he included an approach to the pit. This is the Ayin Yafeh with which a person gives a gift.
When Hashem gave us the Torah, He needed to “give Himself” as well, so to speak, in order for us to properly acquire Torah. He had to give us access and a means to achieve this special gift. When we learn Torah, we understand the Divine wisdom contained within the Torah. Hashem and His Torah are one; when one learns Torah and acquires Torah, he becomes closer to Hashem. The Seller was given along with the Torah. In addition to the Torah knowledge gained through study, one has a closer connection to and a greater understanding of Hashem. And since through Torah one is connecting to the Divine, he must be very careful as to how he relates to the Torah, and it is only with particular character traits and proper intentions that he is able to acquire Torah. Hence, we read in the sixth chapter of Avos of the forty-eight ways in which a person can achieve the crown of Torah.
The Sfas Emes adds that the Torah is referred to as a לקח because it requires a מלקחיים, tongs, to acquire. Just as one can’t touch fire directly and needs to use tongs for work with fire, so too Torah requires tongs. When one is learning, he is involved in heavenly fire and must be very careful. Hence the לקח טוב of Torah requires מלקחיים; the means and the character traits necessary to learn Torah and connect to Hashem.
These words are being written on the first yartzeit of my mother, מרת פייגל בת ר' לוי ע"ה. She was a woman who loved the Jewish people, the land of Israel, and raised her family with an awareness of Hashem in our lives. Just as Bnei Yisrael received the Giver of the Torah with the Torah, so too she always saw Gd’s involvement in our daily lives. May her Neshama have an Aliyah, and may her memory be a blessing for all of her descendants.
Good Shabbos
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