Terumah - GOT MITZVAH?

Terumah - Got Mitzvah?

February 20/21, 2015  Adar 1/2, 5775

And G-D said to Moses:  “According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.”

The people were to build and erect a Tabernacle, or in hebrew, “Mishkan”.   The English word "tabernacle" is derived from the Latin tabernāculum meaning "tent" or "hut", which in ancient Roman religion was a ritual structure.

The word sanctuary is also used for the Biblical tabernacle, as well as the phrase the "tent of meeting". The Hebrew word mishkan implies "dwell", "rest", or "to live in", referring to the "[In-dwelling] Presence of G-d". (Source Wikipedia.com)

To make this happen, Moses and the Israelites were asked by G-D to build a structure, a Tabernacle, a place of worship.  G-d asked of them to donate their possessions, and of their time. This can be viewed as the very first time that The Jewish people practiced the Mitzvah of Tzedaka, that of charity. Our Talmudic teachings say,  ...”Give a 10^th, so that you shall increaseyour wealth.”  So when a person gives charity/Tzedaka, he/she is actually also becoming the recipient, as he benefits from the Mitzvah of Giving! 

We've all raised, or attempted to raise funds by committee, for various causes,  and it’s not an easy task.  We can absolutely make calls and ask for funds/monies/endowments/donations for the project at hand, but the real task is not just finding ‘donor potentials’, it’s finding and uncovering those persons who are willing, able, and properly prepared to honestly and soulfully to dedicate themselves to the difficult and sometimes thankless task of the actual fundraising itself! This applies to donating and volunteering one's time on any committee, like a dear friend who year in and year out runs the Houston Kosher Chili Cook-Off!  (March 8, 2015 at ER JCC in Houston , TX this year!  Go online to http://www.houstonkosherchilicookoff.com/) 

Every year, we get that ‘call’ on Super Sunday from a Federation volunteer, asking us for a donation, or please match last year’s giving.   Some of us see the caller ID, and gladly pick up the phone and make the donation and the job of the caller rather simple!

Each year when I have given my annual Tzedaka to Federation, I hear from the caller on the phone, “Barry, Thank you, it’s such a Mitzvah!”

This parsha (Torah Portion) really shows all of us, the Mitzvah is reciprocated- When a person gives charity, he/she is actually taking for him/herself, and the one who receives it, becomes the giver, since he/she is the vehicle through which this reciprocal support system honestly takes place.

A great lesson!  Mitzvahs Galore.  Somebody is devoting their time, their efforts, their support, and doing the work; The One who answers the phone is facilitating the Caller’s mitzvah. Is my donation or yours, a mitzvah?  Of Course! Next time, before they say, “Thank You for the Mitzvah”, I’ll chime in, and say, “Thank YOU for the Mitzvah of volunteering!”  

We live in our own Mishkan (with in our beautiful natural surroundings), our very own Temple, a Temple With Out walls, and such a blessing!  Got Mitzvah????