Terumah

📜 The Story

God told Moses to ask the Israelites for gifts for a very special project. Anyone who wanted to give could bring gold, silver, copper, colored wool, animal skins, acacia wood, oil and precious stones. Everyone was excited to help build a home for God.

God told them to build the Tabernacle, a holy and beautiful tent, so that His presence could be with the people. The Torah says, 'Make Me a holy place, and I will dwell among them.' The Sages point out that it says 'among them,' not 'in it.' God does not need a huge building. He wants to be close to every one of us.

God gave Moses exact instructions for the Ark, the holy box that would hold the Tablets with the Ten Commandments. The Ark was covered with gold inside and outside. On its cover were two golden cherubim, figures like angels, with their wings spread out, facing each other. God would speak to Moses from between them.

The Tabernacle also had a table for the special loaves of bread called the showbread, and a menorah of pure gold with seven branches to give light. The tent itself was made of wooden boards and colorful curtains. Every detail was made just the way God showed Moses.

This parsha teaches us to give happily, with a full heart. Everyone can give something, big or small, to help build a home for God.