There’s Giving and There’s TERUMA!

This week we have the opportunity to observe two radically different types of giving or philanthropy. In this week’s Torah reading we read: Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart is so moved (Shmot 25:2). Plus, we also read this Shabbat the first of the four special Torah readings which surround the Holiday of Purim, namely Parshat Shekalim, which is about the yearly head tax of one half SHEKEL which went to the Beit Hamikdash to purchase the communal offerings.

In the first case of TERUMA, everyone gave whatever their ‘heart moved them to give’. In the second instance, everyone, from the richest to the poorest, must pay exactly the same amount. 

The first voluntary donation of TERUMA consisted of the money and material for the building of the Mishkan or portable Temple used in the desert. The second obligatory payment was dedicated to the purchase of the communal offerings which were to be sacrificed in that structure. 

There is something inspiring about each payment. The TERUMA gifts were mostly brought from the booty brought out from Egypt. Here were people with disposable wealth for the first time in generations immediately donating it for the greater good of the community. We were placing the Egyptian experience behind us by using the plunder to build for the national future by establishing our relationship with God.

On the other hand, the Half Shekel payments made a very different impression on our psyche. We had just spent centuries in a rigidly stratified society. Everyone knew their place in the massive pyramid of social norms. Now, in the desert we are being taught that everyone’s contribution must be viewed through a prism of social equality. From the throne of the monarch to the hovel of the needy, emerges an equal payment for the communal worship of God.

Many have pointed out the significance of the half Shekel. To make a full Shekel requires partners working together for the common good.

Rav Yehuda Amital wrote a couple of decades ago that the half Shekel is, perhaps, even more meaningful to our generation:

One’s service of the Almighty must be based first and foremost upon an ingrained sense of obligation, duty, commitment – not good will and voluntarism. One must feel obligated to fulfill the mitzvot, and cannot perform them merely because he finds them interesting or appealing. Some people think that a good Jew is one who fully identifies with everything he does and does not perform religious acts as if they have been forced upon him…One must inculcate within himself, before anything else, a profound sense of commitment. This message takes on particular significance today, when Western society seeks to avoid any form of burden and obligation, a tendency that has made its way into our community, as well. The prevalent attitude encourages one to do only what his heart desires, and any type of coercion is considered harmful and threatening…We must rise above this dangerous attitude. Within the religious community, there are those who promote Torah study only because it is interesting and enjoyable. We must understand that Torah study must be based primarily upon a sense of commitment, and only thereafter can one speak of the enjoyment and interest generated therefrom. As symbolized by the sacrifices (which are the primary purpose of the Mishkan), commitment forms the very basis and foundation of serving God, its bottom line and ultimate purpose.

Very well said and cool. On the other hand, the Maor V’Shemsh suggested, that when the Jews gave the TERUMA from the ‘generosity of their heart’: 

It’s as if (if it were possible) that we were actually taking the Holy One, Blessed is He, that is to say Godliness, for the purpose of clinging (perhaps ‘uniting’) to God and the Divine Presence. That’s what our verse meant when it said, ‘Take the offering for Me!’ It could be construed to mean actually ‘Take ME!’ When each person separates off the assets (HAFRASHA) to donate, each individual is really separating (MAFRISH) themselves from the physical realm and humanity to find seclusion (HITBODIDUT) with God. That’s the TERUMA, the ascendant aspect of the donation. Actually, the separating of the donation also separates the person from money and physicality. One, as it were, separates himself from the lower realms to unite with the Supernal Realms and with Infinity (EIN SOF).

Both of these attributes, becoming equal partners in the common weal and aspiring to connection with the Infinite, are worthy goals. Maybe it’s impossible to ever describe one as more ‘worthy’ or ‘noble’ than the other. However, my gut is saying that the aspiration for the voluntary quest for spiritual attainment is just more sublime and pure. At least that’s how I feel this year.

The half shekels buy the offerings whose smoke rises heavenward direct to God. On the other hand, the heartfelt donations to build the Mishkan, actually bring God down here, to earth, to dwell amongst us. The latter is just too marvelous to ignore!

Happy Rosh Chodesh Adar!!