Terumah, loosely translated as donation, gift, or portion is about the construction of the Mishkan (sanctuary). The Mishkan and it’s purpose; "that I may dwell among them" required donations from the elders of Israel, and the entire congregation of Israel, the whole community, or tzibur. This interesting word has letters which represent all types a men: Tz = tzaddik (righteous) = Silver B = benoni (repentant) = Gold R = reshaim (potential) = Copper We have learned that which exists below has its counterpart above; From the reading "Shemot" that Hashem may be found within the true essence of a person; In the reading "Bo" we discovered that all which Is, is Hashem, and therefore all is good. The concept of "bad" is good in an non-revealed state. From the reading, Yitro (EX 18:1-20:23) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3, we find that the lowest of all states has within it the power to raise itself to the highest order. In Mishpatim (EX 21:1 - 24:18) 3 Command Types, Stealing, we see that lowest of laws, which seem serve a mundane purpose, actually have their source within the first commandment, "I am...", which is the highest order of Holiness. Now we see that a dwelling place for the Divine Presence must be built: not permanent, nor are its parts. In the Temple of Jerusalem, the immovable Temple structure is completely built of stone: inanimate, the still soul. However, within our Sanctuary, the Mishkan, the walls and partitions are made of parts alive: animal products and plants. From this we may learn that the highest order of Holiness above can be revealed within the lowest order of revealed existence, here the Temple is simply inanimate rock.
All men are accepted and all men have the ability to allow the Divine Presence to rest among them, and must be appropriate to house such a Presence. The intentions which a man has to comply can be measured in truth by his heart. Heart always acts without wisdom, applied to it by way of the brain. When one meditates on the greatness of Hashem and Torah, it will eventually influence the heart to pump this understanding throughout the entire body, so that it may vitalize all of the bodies organs with which it performs the daily mitzvot. Then one can truly build a vessel (Sanctuary) worthy of the Divine Presence.
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