Parashah Roundup: Terumah 5768

by Steve Brizel

Building the Mishkan

R. Yitzchak Etshalom provides a detailed overview of the roles of Moshe, Betzalel, and the many differences between the two accounts of building the Mishkan: link

R. Jonathan Sacks and R. Berel Wein tell us that the building of the Mishkan was an act of allowing room for the Infinite in our finite world: link 1, link 2

R. Aharon Lichtenstein, based on the Ramban, shows how the Mishkan elicited both Ahavas HaShem and Yiras Shamayim in its purpose of replicating Revelation at Sinai: link

R. Yaakov Haber (Torahlab), based on R. Yonosan Eibeschutz, suggests that all of the various areas of work in the construction of the Mishkan teach us that we only get out of a mitzvah what we invest in time and energy: link

R. Efraim Buchwald, based upon a variety of sources, proves that the sanctity of the Mishkan depended on the effort expended by Klal Yisrael: link

R. Zvi Sobolofksy explains the significance of the Mishkan as the introduction of Kedushas Makom: link

R. Mayer Twersky emphasizes that the building of the Mishkan teaches us that we should ask “what does the Torah want from me” as opposed to “how far can I advance my own agenda without trampling on the Torah”: link

Click here to read moreThe Mishkan and Tzedaka

R. Zeff Leff shows us how the building of the Mishkan serves as a prototype for how we should approach Tzedaka and the support of Torah institutions: link

Who Donated How Much for the Mishkan

R. Mordechai Kornfeld, based upon the Maharal, explains the varuious levels of donations for the Mishkan: link

Mishkan and Mikdash

R. Yaakov Medan explores the similarities and differences between the Mishkan and Mikdash: link

Kapores and Keruvim

R. Ezra Bick discusses the purposes of the Kapores and Keruvim: link

The Construction of the Menorah and Talmud Torah

R. Yissachar Frand demonstrates that Moshe Rabbeinu's difficulty in understanding how to build the Menorah is very similar to the difficulties that one faces in acquiring Torah knowledge: link

The Shulchan as a Source of Bracha

R. Shomo Wolbe zt"l discusses the relationship between the Kohen's blessings even if he ate only a small piece of bread and a halachic requirement to keep bread on the table until after Birkas Hamazon: link (DOC)

R. Asher Brander , based upon Rabbenu Bchaye, explains why our dining room tables can represent the ultimate form of giving, as opposed to taking: link

The Poles of the Aron and the Poles of the Mizbeach

The Meshech Chochmah (as prepared by R. Eliezer Kwass) explains why the Poles of the Aron were always stationary and the poles could be moved: link

The Aron HaKodesh and the Mizbeach

R. Shlomo Riskin, based upon R. Elchanan Samet, shows us a new insight into a dispute between Rambam and Ramban as to the placement of the Aron HaKodesh and the Mizbeach: link

The Internalization of Torah Study

R. Avigdor Nevenzahl, in the course of discussing a well known dispute within Rishonim as to whether the building of the Mishkan preceded or followed the Episode of the Golden Calf, suggests that just as a properly constructed Mishkan must serve as a Mishkan, a person's heart can only house the Torah, if his heart is fitting: link