G-d told Moshe to speak to the Children of Israel “and take for Me Teruma (donations for the Tabernacle) from the generous-hearted you shall take My Teruma” [1]. Why is it necessary to repeat the instruction to “take Teruma” twice? Furthermore: why is the Teruma originally referred to simply as “Teruma”, but afterwards called “My Teruma” – what changed?
A young man – we shall call him Shimon – faced a dilemma. His parents had always been wealthy and supported him in his Torah study, but suddenly they were left virtually penniless. Shimon was advised to leave his studies and pursue the computing industry. He went to consult with one of the great sages of the generation who told him the following story…
A young man was engaged to be married to a girl called Tamar, but he was suffering from niggling doubts. He consulted his Rabbi who told him that we have a tradition that if a person recites the entire book of psalms with great concentration at the Western wall, followed by a request from G-d, he will surely be answered. Off the young man went, and, after finishing the entire book of Psalms, he made his way towards the exit, where he encountered a charity collector who he had never seen before. As soon as he set his eyes on the young man, the charity collector approached him, gave him a big hug, and said “Mazel Tov! You are getting married to a fine girl. It is a match made in heaven, as it says: the righteous will sprout like a Tamar – a palm tree. You are righteous and her name is Tamar!” And with that the charity collector disappeared! Needless to say that the young couple married and have since then lived happily ever after.
Shimon decided to follow the sage’s advice. As soon as he finished the book of Psalms a celebrity, flanked by security guards, approached the Western wall to pray – right next to Shimon! Seeing this as a Heavenly sign, Shimon tried to discover more about the celebrity, but was unsuccessful, the celebrity leaving as swiftly as he arrived. The celebrity had placed a note in between the bricks of the Western wall which Shimon had noticed and now, right or wrong, decided to read. The message read as follows: ‘We have an important NBA game on Sunday. I have a lot of money at stake. Please help my team win. Martin – the manager. Tel. No……’
Shimon built up his wits and called Martin. His secretary answered and said that Martin was busy. “Tell him that I am a Heavenly messenger and I have an answer for him” Shimon instructed. A few moments later Martin was on the line. “Don’t worry – everything will be okay on Sunday” Shimon told him. Martin, still in shock thanked Shimon, took his number and said farewell.
On Monday Shimon received a phone call. Martin’s secretary invited him to their hotel. “Are you really a Heavenly messenger?” Martin asked Shimon. “No,” confessed Shimon, “it’s just that…”
Shimon told Martin the whole story of how his parents had lost their wealth and how he had gone to the Western wall to pray. Martin listened eagerly and was fascinated. He gave Shimon a very generous donation and also bought for him a five-room apartment in Har Nof, Jerusalem!
“Teruma” meaning ‘to set aside’ [2] contains the letters ‘Torah’ [3]. When we “take for Me teruma” i.e. ‘set aside’ times to learn Torah, then G-d promises: “you shall take My Teruma” – I have something set aside for you in return.
A person will never lose out from pursuing spirituality, and in particular Torah study; he will be ‘paid back’ more than proportionally: Primarily in the next world [4], but also sometimes in this world [5] – if we just place our trust in His promise.
In fact, the very word “terumati (My Teruma)” shares exactly the same numerical value as the verse “Israel! Trust in G-d: He protects and helps” [6] – sometimes in the least likely of ways!
Have a ‘terumendous’ Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
Story: Told by R’ Chaim Zaid
[1] Shemos 25:2 [2] Rashi [3] Baal haTurim [4] See Shabbos 31a [5] Peah 1:1 [6] Tehillim 115:9
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