In this week's Parsha, Hashem instructs Moshe on the creation of the mishkan, based on the contributions of am yisrael needed in order to construct it. A very important lesson we can learn in Truma is the importance of giving tzedaka . The opening psukim state "Vayidaber Hashem el Moshe lemor: daber el b'nei yisrael vayikchu li trumah- Hashem spoke to Moses, saying: speak to the children of Israel and let them take for Me a portion" (25:1-2). It can be very difficult for many people to be generous with their hard-earned money..is it not human nature to fend for ourselves and then protect what we have toiled for? Yet, Hashem gave Moshe a large list of 15 materials He required from b'nei yisrael, including gold and silver, spices and gems in order to create a portable dwelling place. However, as King Solomon said in mishlei: "kchu musari vi'al kesef-take my rebuke and not money" (8:10) From here, we learn it's more important to take the words of the torah to heart than expend our energies in amassing wealth and fortune. Ultimately, our material possessions can only be possessed in this world and can only bring us complications and strife, but torah is a possession we carry (and carries us) into the next world. As Rabbi Yaakov said in Pirkei Avot, "Haolam haze dome lifruzdor bifnei haolam haba;hataken atzmecha bifruzdor, k'dei shetikanes latraklin-This world is like a lobby before the world to come. Prepare yourself in the lobby, so that you may enter the banquet hall". The money and possessions we have here are not things that we will be able to take into olam haba with us, but using them to help others will help us get there.
Looking back on the words of King Soloman "kchu musari - take my rebuke", we see that it is important to not be lazy, and to act with zealousness as demonstrated by the active word "kchu-take". We see that we must fulfill the mitzvot that we do with a pure heart and with happiness, otherwise no matter how much good we do, it will all be worthless. The same goes for the manner in which we give tzedaka. The Mishna outlines the four ways to give tzedaka in Pirkei Avot, the third of which being "Yiten vayitnu acherim-chasid. That he should give and others should give is pious". When we give tzedaka, it should not be with a longing to be acknowledged, and gain recognition. For this reason, the opening pasuk contains the word "li" ("vayikchu li trumah"). "LI" to indicate that it is for Hashem, and not in order to flatter ourselves and boost our own ego. So that when we do give tzedaka , we do so quietly, with no one but Hashem knowing. As Rabi Yossi says in Pirkei Avot "v'chol ma'asecha yehiyu lishem shamayim- let all your deeds be done for the sake of heaven" (2:13).
The word "vayikchu" also conveys other matters of importance. The fact that the active word "take" is used as opposed to any other word with essentially the same instruction, like "let them give" teaches us that we should also try to get others to give tzedaka in addition to our own giving. As it says in the Gemara, "Gadol hama'ase yoter min ha'ase- He who causes a good deed to be done is greater than the one who does it". This is, of course, not to say that we should not do mitzvot ourselves and merely encourage others to do them..conversely, it is imperative that we extend ourselves that tiny bit further and encourage and enable others to do mitzvot, as well.In doing so, we bring Hashem closer to us, as it says in tehillim "ki ya'amod liyamin evyon- for He stands to the right of the impoverished"(109:31)
According to the Toldot Yitzchak, the words "vayikchu li" is Hashem's way of saying to us that by giving tzedaka, we are reinforcing our relationship with Hashem, as if we are 'marrying' Him, in the same way that a groom betroths his wife with a gift. One final possible explanation is that the word "take" is used to show that the amount of tzedaka we give is rewarded by Hashem greater than the amount we have given-it is like being reimbursed with interest! Every possession that we have here on this world in this life has been given to us,as if on loan, by Hashem. We are given free will, and have the choice to do whatever we desire with it. However, it is important for us to recognize that when we give tzedaka, we are merely acting as Hashem's emissaries and delivering what He would want to give to the person to whom we are giving. We are merely the vessel through which Hashem betters their lot, and we should not be concerned that we are at loss..not only do we get proportionately rewarded but, chas v'shalom, if we were ever in a situation of need, we could only pray that someone would share the blessings that Hashem has bestowed upon them with us in the same way. As it says in tehillim, "ashrei mashkil el dal biyom ra'ah yimaltehu Hashem- fortunate is he who cares wisely for the needy. On the day of evil, Hashem will save Him" (41:2) Clearly, the merits of giving are inconceivably great!
Looking back on the words of King Soloman "kchu musari - take my rebuke", we see that it is important to not be lazy, and to act with zealousness as demonstrated by the active word "kchu-take". We see that we must fulfill the mitzvot that we do with a pure heart and with happiness, otherwise no matter how much good we do, it will all be worthless. The same goes for the manner in which we give tzedaka. The Mishna outlines the four ways to give tzedaka in Pirkei Avot, the third of which being "Yiten vayitnu acherim-chasid. That he should give and others should give is pious". When we give tzedaka, it should not be with a longing to be acknowledged, and gain recognition. For this reason, the opening pasuk contains the word "li" ("vayikchu li trumah"). "LI" to indicate that it is for Hashem, and not in order to flatter ourselves and boost our own ego. So that when we do give tzedaka , we do so quietly, with no one but Hashem knowing. As Rabi Yossi says in Pirkei Avot "v'chol ma'asecha yehiyu lishem shamayim- let all your deeds be done for the sake of heaven" (2:13).
The word "vayikchu" also conveys other matters of importance. The fact that the active word "take" is used as opposed to any other word with essentially the same instruction, like "let them give" teaches us that we should also try to get others to give tzedaka in addition to our own giving. As it says in the Gemara, "Gadol hama'ase yoter min ha'ase- He who causes a good deed to be done is greater than the one who does it". This is, of course, not to say that we should not do mitzvot ourselves and merely encourage others to do them..conversely, it is imperative that we extend ourselves that tiny bit further and encourage and enable others to do mitzvot, as well.In doing so, we bring Hashem closer to us, as it says in tehillim "ki ya'amod liyamin evyon- for He stands to the right of the impoverished"(109:31)
According to the Toldot Yitzchak, the words "vayikchu li" is Hashem's way of saying to us that by giving tzedaka, we are reinforcing our relationship with Hashem, as if we are 'marrying' Him, in the same way that a groom betroths his wife with a gift. One final possible explanation is that the word "take" is used to show that the amount of tzedaka we give is rewarded by Hashem greater than the amount we have given-it is like being reimbursed with interest! Every possession that we have here on this world in this life has been given to us,as if on loan, by Hashem. We are given free will, and have the choice to do whatever we desire with it. However, it is important for us to recognize that when we give tzedaka, we are merely acting as Hashem's emissaries and delivering what He would want to give to the person to whom we are giving. We are merely the vessel through which Hashem betters their lot, and we should not be concerned that we are at loss..not only do we get proportionately rewarded but, chas v'shalom, if we were ever in a situation of need, we could only pray that someone would share the blessings that Hashem has bestowed upon them with us in the same way. As it says in tehillim, "ashrei mashkil el dal biyom ra'ah yimaltehu Hashem- fortunate is he who cares wisely for the needy. On the day of evil, Hashem will save Him" (41:2) Clearly, the merits of giving are inconceivably great!
Shabat shalom umevorach!
*Translations credited as follows
All quotes from Parshat Trumah taken from the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash
All quotes from Pirkei Avot taken from the Artscroll Pirkei Avos byRabbi Meir Zlotowitz
All quotes from Tehillim taken from the Artscroll Tehillim
