Parashat Terumah

The obligation to contribute

by Yosef Zvi Rimon

Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif

This week’s parasha opens with a description of the donations offered by the nation of Israel for the construction of the tabernacle.  The first verse presents a famous difficulty:

“Speak to the children of Israel, that they may take a contribution for me, from any man whose heart generously offers you will take my contribution” (Shmote 25:1-2)

The word ויקחו or take doesn’t seem to make sense here.  If the word “take” is thought of in the normal sense then it would appear as if G-d is saying take for yourself. We know this can’t be possible because one doesn’t take Terumah for himself; the very point of Terumah is to give it to someone else.

Ibn Ezra explains that taking can be interpreted as giving.  He quotes a verse from Melachim A, (17:10): “Take some water for me”, and explains that here “take” actually means give, because in essence you are ‘taking for me.’

However, this explanation is still problematic when we consider the end of the verse in Parashat Terumah: “From any man whose heart generously offers you will take my contribution”.  Clearly the word ‘take’ at the end of the verse means ‘to take’ and not ‘to give’ – one word cannot have two opposing meanings in the context of the same verse!

Sforno offers another explanation:

“‘That they may take a contribution for me” means ‘tell the children of Israel I want collectors to collect the contributions for me.’

According to Sforno, the word ‘take’ refers to the charity collectors, who will take and collect charity for the purpose of building the tabernacle.  Who will the donations be collected from? From anyone whose heart generously offers – any person who wishes to contribute.

I would like to offer a variation of this explanation, based on another similar interpretation of the Netziv in Ha’amek Davar.  The Netziv asks: “If no one had contributed, would the tabernacle not have been built?”  What would have happened to the tabernacle had the nation not offered contributions?  He adds that people are obligated to offer money to build a synagogue; it seems clear that the same should apply to the tabernacle.

Perhaps if the nation had not offered to contribute to the construction of the tabernacle, we would not be deserving of a tabernacle.  Alternately, perhaps the donation discussed in this verse was obligatory, and everyone was expected to contribute; however, every person could choose how much to contribute.

Thus, the charity collectors collected from everyone – “that they may take a contribution”, but each person gave the amount their hearts desired.

Each and every person is expected to contribute to the construction of the tabernacle; however, the amount that is given varies depending on means and generosity.

Herein lies an important lesson: Each and every person in expected to contribute, but only he decides that amount.

This applies to monetary contributions as well as other types of contributions in life, such as to family, society and the world.  In each home, the children should be expected to contribute to the household in some way.  Even if the family employs cleaning help, a child should be expected to remove his dishes from the table, wash the dishes, or assist with the younger children.  A person who lives in a household is a partner.  A partner must be expected to contribute in some way!

May we merit the ability to give and contribute according to our talents and unique abilities. And may we enjoy being partners in God’s amazing world.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov!