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Teruma "take for me Terumah, from every man who's heart gives, take my Terumah" There are three different kinds of people who give charity. 1. An individual who gives charity in order to fulfil Hashem's command. They say over in the name of Rabbi Bunim that a person must give charity to the pauper not because he has a soft and concerning heart - out of concern for the pauper, rather because of G-d's command to do so. 2. A person who gives charity out of the goodness of his heart. He can not see or tolerate the difficulty or pain of the pauper. 3. An individual who does not really want to give charity. Rather, we take it from him even against his will. All three of these individuals are hinted at in this Passuk. First, "take for me Terumah," Rashi explains; 'Me, for My sake' his entire intention is for My sake. Second, "from every man who's heart gives," this is the one who gives charity out of the goodness of his heart - he can not tolerate the pain of the pauper. Finally, "take my Terumah," even if he has no desire to give never less it is necessary to take from him even against his will. Rabbi Noson Adler z"l explains: the Aron in which the Luchos are found is the Torah, the two Kruvim on the Kapores that face one another reflect the sages who discuss with one another the law, they face the cover telling us that they must constantly have an intent to discover the truth as it is written in the Luchos. The two poles with which we carry the Aron reflect those that support Torah. However, the Aron carried those who carried it. One may have thought that those who provide for the sages are those who carry them. The truth is the opposite. The entire world is receiving sustenance because of those who study Torah. Other sages say the place of the Aron can not be measured and stands by a miracle to tell us that the Torah is never limited to any single place or time rather constantly all the time and in every place and in every condition it is possible to follow the ways of the Torah and find opportunities to study it. (Chasam Sofer). and you should cover it (the Aron) with pure gold, from inside and outside it should be covered. Said Rava, every Talmid Chochom whose interior is not like his exterior is not a Talmid Chochom. The Talmud tells us: on the day that Rabbi Eliezer ben Azaryah was appointed the President, they removed the guard from the door and all were given permission to enter the Bais HaMedrash to learn. Rabbi Gamliel, who preceded Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah would order it to be announced, every Talmid whose interior is not like his exterior should not enter into the Bais HaMedrash. They ask, how did the Guard know who was the same inside as outside? How should he know if one's mouth was as was his heart? In order to know this and reach in to the depths of a person's heart it is necessary to have unique insight?. The Gerrer Rebbe explains. The decree of Rabbi Gamliel itself was the guard on the door. Any who did not feel worthy did not enter, though the door was open. The Sadigerrer Rebbe explains differently. No-one was permitted to enter into the Bais HaMedrash. However, those students that fought with their power and might - their entire heart and soul were committed to ensuring they could break all the barriers and enter into the Bais Hamedrash.- just as Hillel did what ever he could in order to learn. This ability to overcome any possible obstacles was by itself the test if his interior was like his exterior. |
