Giving and Taking

In this week’s parsha, we read about the details of the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). This is in fact the second time the Torah describes for us the details of the Mishkan and its construction; the first time being in parshat Terumah (the parshah from 3 weeks ago). Whereas parshat Terumah speaks about the commandment to build the temple, parshat Vayakhel speaks about the fulfillment of this commandment of how the Mishkan was constructed.

On the surface, our parshah seems to repeat the details of the Mishkan written in parshat Terumah word for word. But with closer inspection, many discrepancies arise. One such example occurs in the opening verses of our parshah.

Moshe (Moses) tells the Jewish nation:

“…This is the word that Hashem (God) has commanded, saying: ‘Take from yourselves a portion (תרומה) for Hashem, everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring the portion of Hashem…’ ” [Exodus: 35: 4 – 5]

Clearly, Moshe is repeating to the Jewish people a command that was issued forth from Hashem. This very command appears at the beginning of parshat Terumah:

“Hashem spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel and they shall take for me a portion (תרומה), from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take my portion.’ ” [Exodus: 25: 1 – 2]

(The “you” in “you shall take my portion” at the end of the verse is in fact not referring to Moshe, rather it is referring to the Jewish people themselves. Proof for this is the fact that “take” is written in its plural form “תקחו” instead of “תקח”, its singular form.

An obvious distinction between these two verses is the verb that is used to describe how the Jews were to give the portion to Hashem. In the first verse when Moshe is speaking to the Jewish people, he uses the verb “bring”, but when Hashem is speaking to Moshe He uses the verb “take”. Our first question is: what is the meaning behind this discrepancy? But an even greater question lies in the actual verb that God uses! If God is commanding the Jewish people to give a portion, why would He use the verb “take”? It’s the exact opposite of giving!The idea here is very profound: There are times when one is giving, while at the same time he is taking. An immoral person would take this to mean that even when you give, the recipient owes you a favor, so in some sense you’re taking! On a moral and deeper level, the idea is far more meaningful, and is a fundamental principle of our everyday lives.

I have heard the question asked before: who is getting the better end of the deal, the one who receives charity or the one who gives it? Monetarily, there is no question; the receiver is walking out with more cash in his pocket. But on a spiritual level, the donor is fulfilling the commandment of charity, and will therefore leave this world with more good deeds in his pocket. Therefore, we have a case of one who is giving (money), while at the same time taking (heavenly reward). Of course, this applies not only to giving money, but to all acts of kindness as well. However, this is explanation is a very simple and superficial understanding of this idea.

On a deeper level, it is the act itself of giving that will have an everlasting influence on the donor. The act of giving to another, of helping someone in a time of need, is an overwhelming experience. Often times one may obtain this feeling when the recipient approaches him and expresses his heartfelt appreciation and gratefulness for the donor’s contribution or act of kindness. To have someone tell you how much you’ve done for them, how much of an impact you have had on their life! There are fewer things that can be more self-fulfilling and uplifting than that! But truthfully, it is not the “thank you” that should spark these emotions, but the recognition that you have somehow made a difference in someone’s life. Therefore, we can understand, in another fashion, how giving can in itself be an act of taking.

This concept can be brought even deeper. Everything in this world, everything we possess — our clothes, our houses, our money, our souls… — in actuality, they all belong to God. He created the world and everything that is in it, therefore everything is His! For this reason we praise Him day by day and express our gratitude for everything He has given us, for He is the ultimate giver. And it is only through this recognition, that nothing is ours, that we may use the items in this world. Therefore, before eating anything, before smelling any sweet fragrances, even when we buy new clothing, we recite a blessing expressing our realization that everything has been given to us by God, the true owner. We must truly connect to the internal feeling that the item is really God’s and that we would give it back to Him if it were possible; only then may we benefit from it. Therefore, we “give” to God by recognizing His supernal providence and ownership over everything in creation, and only then may we “take” it. (*see footnote for one more quick understanding of this idea*)

By all these explanations, we become uplifted in our act of giving. This is why the word that the Torah uses when speaking of the “portion” we give to God is “תרומה”, which literally means “a raising up”. May we merit to perform acts of kindness always, and become uplifted in our acts of giving throughout our lives.



Good Shabbos,

NZL



(*I once heard an idea, however I forget from where, that the only way to own something is to give the item away to someone else. By holding onto an object, we can never really say that is truly ours, for who knows what can happen? A burglary? A flood? God has a myriad of ways of taking our possessions away from us. It is only through giving that we can actually say that the item was ours and demonstrate a true act of ownership over an item. Additionally, man is made in “the image of God” [Genesis: 1: 27] and we are meant to emulate His ways. Just as God is the ultimate giver Who at the same time owns everything, so too when we give we become, like God, owners of that which we have given to others*)