A "House" for God | Rabbi Pinchas Winston | Beit Midrash

Torah Portion and Tanach
Terumah

קטגוריה משנית

The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of

Adir ben Bracha

2874

In this week's parashah the Jewish people are instructed to collect the materials for and begin the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. It was a tremendous undertaking to build a "house" for the Presence of God, an undertaking that, as God Himself later revealed to Moshe Rabbeinu, requires Divine assistance (Shemot 39:33). Only with the help of God does the impossible become possible, and sometimes, it is only in hindsight that we are able to discern His hand in all that we have succeeded in accomplishing.

We can speak about Eretz Yisrael in the same way. To return to a barren land after 2000 years of exile, and to transform what had become a virtual wasteland into living habitations and an advanced country and all this in less than 60 years is nothing short of a great miracle. This is especially true given all the obstacles along the way and opposition from the rest of the world.

Amazingly, the land has developed not only physically, but spiritually as well. At the center of the spiritual world is the Western Wall, recovered during the miraculous 6-Day War, and a draw for Jews from all over the world. As one drives from community to community, it is astounding how many synagogues and Torah study halls have been built over the years.

And, as long as we keep our ultimate national goal in mind, to build a "house" in which the Presence of God may rest, then we can expect additional miracles that will further develop this country into place to which ALL Jews will wish to return. We will be able to make a gift (terumah) to God from the very gift that He first gave to us, as the Jews did in this week's parashah when they contributed to the Mishkan.
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From Aloh Naaleh Dvar Torah