Devar/5769/Terumah
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< Devar | 5769
עברית
English
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart maketh him willing ye shall take My offering. (Ex 25:2)
According to this verse, it seems that God is asking for a free voluntary offering, "whose heart maketh him willing". But the next verse says: And this is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold, and silver, and brass; to inform you that God wants certain specific things to be brought to build the mishkan (Tabernacle). Not every material is appropriate for the building in which God's presence will dwell.
Likewise regarding worshipping God outside the mishkan -- not every action is appropriate; not everything we can imagine is desirable to Him, may He be blessed. Therefore He gave us the Torah along with its interpretation, the Oral Torah; and commanded us to obey the Sanhedrin and to do as they direct us -- because without such direction, we would not fulfill His will except incidentally.
When we listen to our Sages and live according to their direction, we prepare the foundation for the Divine Presence to dwell amongst us -- And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (ibid 8). May it be His will the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days.
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