Terumah - Be Like Steve -Got/Give Mitzvah?

Terumah -   Be Like Steve -Got/Give Mitzvah? 

February 12/13, 2016   Adar1  3/4, 5776

  

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".

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 10th, so that you shall increase your wealth.”  So when a person gives charity/Tzedaka, he/she is actually also becoming the recipient, as he benefits from the Mitzvah of Giving!

Many of us have raised, or attempted to raise funds/monies/endowments/donations for a school fundraising helping your child’s school or 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 indeed really applies to donating and volunteering one's time on any committee, like a dear friend Steve, who year in and year out runs the Houston Kosher Chili Cook-Off!  (Sunday February 28, 2016  at ER JCC in Houston ,TX!  Go online to http://www.houstonkosherchilicookoff.com/) ….Awesome cause, and a lot of great Chili and family fun!!!!  Steve has the task of not only asking people to volunteer, a Mitzvah in itself, but he also drives countless hours to get this or that, has countless meetings, picks up donations for the auction, directs the actual function and happily gives of his time!  A true mensch and a multiple of Mitzvahs!!! Steve sets a great example of the meaning of giving of oneself and it is beautiful and he does it for the love of the community and the cause! Be like Steve!

And let’s not forget, 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.   Each year when I have given my annual Tzedaka/Donation to Federation, I hear from the caller on the phone, “Barry, Thank you, it’s such a Mitzvah!”  I say, “thank you”. 

This 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 truly and beautiful lesson!  Mitzvahs Galore. 

When 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, of giving of yourself,of caring, of loving, of sharing....!” 

We live in our own Mishkan (with in our beautiful natural surroundings), our very own Temple, a Temple Without Walls, and such a blessing!  Got or Give Mitzvah????