Our ninth grade daughter has
been involved in a major fundraising project for SHALVA, an Israeli charitable
organization that helps special needs children and their families. Our daughter
chose to participate in a fundraising project that, if she fulfilled her quota,
she would be able to participate in the Jerusalem Marathon in a couple of
weeks. She canvassed, she had a bake
sale, she helped to operate a day camp for elementary school age children during
the recent winter vacation, and she and a friend sold Shabbat desserts. She
raised funds in small increments: $5, $10, and $20. She raised funds in larger
$100 increments. She sent emails, and she created a website for her project.
She learned about SHALVA and how this organization helps special needs children
and their families. She even began an exercise regimen involving running and
walking so that she could complete the Jerusalem Marathon. No, she won’t be
running 26.2 miles. She will be running/walking a 10k (6.2 miles) through the
streets of Jerusalem.
This Shabbat we read from Parsha
Terumah. In it, Moshe has re-ascended the mountain in order to receive the
laws, and the blueprint, if you will, for the construction of the Mishkan, the
portable tabernacle that will eventually permit B’nai Yisroel to gather, to
make offerings to God and to provide a physical dwelling for God. If you are an
architect, or if you are an interior decorator, this Parsha goes into
tremendous detail about Mishkan’s construction and decoration. More than
anything, this Parsha is all about fundraising, financial development, and
a community getting behind a concrete
common cause as opposed to the shared experience of revelation or shared words
of law.
Before all the detail are
presented for construction and decoration, God commands Moshe to tell B’nai
Yisroel that the funding for this vital public works project will come from
each individual V’Yikchu Li Terumah
Mei’eit Kol Ish Asher Yidvenu Libo Tikechu et Terumati – They shall take for me a portion, from every
man whose heart motivates him, you shall take my portion (Ex. 25:2). The
holiest spot within the community, the most sacred area is based upon each and
every individual apportioning a percentage of their assets to the construction
of, decoration of, and maintenance of the Mishkan. How incredibly equitable!
Everyone is involved and everyone has a stake in the outcome. All this
fundraising success occurs as a result of Yidvenu Libo- literally, he will
donate according to his heart. This is not a tax. These funds were to be raised
by voluntary donations. The Or Hachayim (Rabbi Chaim Ibn Attar 18th
century Moroccan Talmudist, Torah Commentator and Kabbalist) explains that
three phrases, three expressions correspond to three degrees of “gifts”/ “donations”. He explains that the phrase: Mei’eit Kol Ish, from every man appears superfluous. The verse could have easily be
written without it so that the new verse would have read: They shall take for me a portion from anyone whose heart motivates
(from anyone willing to donate), you shall take my portion. Why is the
phrase necessary? The verse speaks of “Terumah
-gift” and “Terumati – my gift.” The
term “my gift” cannot be used except when the donor has done so willingly. The
donor could not have been coerced. According to the Midrash, this Mishkan, this
“mobile worship station” was a form of atonement for Golden Calf (Jerusalem
Talmud Shekalim 1:5). This phrase “from every man” indicates that each
individual person donated this project above and beyond the designated “atonement
tax”. “From every man” also indicates
that economic station and social status was irrelevant. The motivation was
based upon “one’s heart” and not some external authority.
As our daughter showed us her
SHALVA website which tracked the funds that she raised, I noticed something
different about her. She appeared more mature. She seemed to have a sense of
self confidence that did not exist prior to this accomplishment. She also seemed to exude a type of integrity
that didn’t exist prior to this project. Our daughter donated several hundred
dollars of her own money before she even began asking others to give Yidvenu Libo –according to motivation of one’s heart. She gave whole heartedly
touched by the mission of the organization, touched by the children, and
empowered to make a difference. Probably the chance to earn a trip to Israel
and participate in the Jerusalem Marathon also contributed to her sense of
urgency and her passion. Clearly, our daughter was basking in the glow of
Terumah, the glow of a gift. Her sense of accomplishment was her gift, and the
money raised was SHALVA’s gift. However our daughter also gave us a gift. Our daughter
gave us the gift of watching her grow up a bit, mature a bit and begin to blossom
into a thoughtful, passionate, committed, intelligent and resourceful young
woman. Indeed, as a father of three daughters, I can’t imagine a better gift
from than that.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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