Terumah: Gifts From The Heart
I had the opportunity to give a sermon this past week at Synagogue Ahavath Sholom in Ft. Worth, Texas and I wanted to share it.
It was on the Torah portion Terumah, which marks the most pivotal moment in the transforming the Children of Israel. Up until this time, God has given everything to the Children of Israel to transform them into a holy nation. Now, they are commanded to give gifts called Terumah.
The Hebrew word Terumah is translated as gift. However, the Hebrew word for gift is matanah. So what kind gift is this? Terumah usually translates as a “contribution,” explains Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and this is the type of gift “that lifts you up.” He explains that the Hebrew root (shoresh) of t’erum’ah- is rum- which means lift up. He concludes that when contributing to a higher cause, “You are lifted it up.” The mishkan was created with love and generosity, and that these contributions could only be gifts from the heart.
The people gave what they personally valued. To God, the most precious gift is generosity and devotion, which in turn elevates the spirit.
It is not that God needed gifts, what is being hinted at is that in order to be in partnership, one must give back equally. They learned how to give back, be generous, appreciative and loving to this invisible God. This was to create a portable Tabernacle, or ‘home’ for God. Their reciprocity bonded the relationship; just as it does ALL healthy relationships
Have you ever been given so much love and kindness that the love you give back is effortless and overflowing? The love you are giving is filled with appreciation and gratitude for being given so much. That is the kind of ‘holy giving’ Terumah exemplifies…true giving that has nothing to do with the externals of money, property, power, prestige or material wealth. It is about the a generous heart that is only found through internal giving.
Gifts from the heart are precious and in our culture sometimes overlooked. There are many ways to give and there are many ways to receive. Sometimes, when people are generous others can take advantage and sometimes those people get greedy and use the gift for selfish reasons. So, it takes a special person to give and receive the way God intended.
The last beautiful teaching is regarding the Hebrew word “natan” which means to give. As Rabbi Elijah of Vilna pointed out centuries ago, the word is a palindrome, spelled the same way in both directions. The hidden brilliance inside the word teaches us this lesson, “When we give from the heart, We receive.”
Here is a favorite story of mine that adds one more insight about giving:
The famous Rabbi Haim of Romshishok from Lithuania was asked, “Do the Jewish people believe in Hell?” He said, “I will answer from my experience.”:
“One night, I had a dream, where I ascended to the Firmament. Lo and behold, I thought this was heaven because there in front of me, was a sprawling green lawn, dotted with a stone pathway that led to a magnificent mansion. The front door was open, so I walked into the hallway. To my right was a huge dining room. Row after row of elegant tables filled with platters of the finest food and drink imaginable. And yet, the people seated around the tables were pale and emaciated, moaning in hunger. As I came closer understood why.
Every person held a heaping spoon of food, but both arms had no elbows, so they could not bend their arms to bring the food to his or her mouth. It broke my heart to hear the tortured groans of these poor people as they held their food so near…. but could not consume it. And there was nothing. I could do. I left in horror, because I realized this was Hell.
And then, I felt this pull at my back taking me from there. It led me out and took me across the street to another almost identical mansion. I was worried I would have to see more of these sad souls . But this time when I entered the house, even though I saw the same rows of elegant tables and overflowing food, there was a feeling of joy. Everyone was laughing and talking, and they asked me to come join them.
As I came closer, I was amazed to discover that here, too, each person had spoons full of food, but no elbows. How, then, did they manage to eat? As I watched, a man picked up his spoon and dug it into the dish before him. Then he stretched across the table and fed the person across from him! The recipient of this kindness thanked him and returned the favor by leaning across the table to feed the one who gave. him food.
I suddenly understood. Heaven and Hell offer the same circumstances and conditions. The critical difference is in the way the people treat each other. I ran back to Hell to share this solution with the poor souls trapped there. I whispered in the ear of one starving man, “You do not have to go hungry. Use your spoon to feed your neighbor, and he will surely return the favor and feed you.” “You expect me to feed the detestable man sitting across the table?” said the man angrily. “I would rather starve than give him the pleasure of eating!”
We are all searching for balance and fulfillment, a meaning in life. This Torah portion, Terumah illustrates the special type of giving and receiving that creates. psychological nourishing and spiritual flourishing. This is how we create heaven on earth.
