Torah

Now that we’ve read Mishpatim, we can proceed to T’rumah

The Beis HaLevi, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l (d. 1892), makes a sharp point in his opening remarks on this week’s Torah portion. Parshas T’rumah begins the story of the most successful fundraising campaign in Jewish history: collecting donations for the Mishkan. Hashem informs Moshe of all the materials that will be necessary to construct a sanctuary worthy of housing the Sh’chinah. The Beis HaLevi notes that it is very telling that this topic appears immediately after last week’s reading of the civil laws of Mishpatim. In a sense, the Torah is teaching us the prerequisites for having the privilege of contributing to the Mishkan: In order for there to be a t’rumah (donation), there must first be mishpatim (laws). Only money that is gained legally and ethically can be accepted for G-dly endeavors.

How can we experience K’rias Yam Suf every day?

Every morning, when one recites Az Yashir, he should imagine that he is crossing the Sea at that very moment (Mishnah B’rurah 51:17).

We are obligated to feel as if there is no obligation at all.

One of the many laws in Mishpatim is the mitzvah to provide interest-free loans to those in need: Im kesef talveh es ami (Sh’mos 22:24).

Was Pharaoh really roaming around in pajamas in the middle of the night?

We may not have a way to verify that bold claim, but the sentiment is certainly true. When Makas B’choros struck at midnight, Pharaoh “got up” and called for Moshe and Aharon (Sh’mos 12:30-31). Rashi adds just one word, “mi’mitaso,” to explain that Pharaoh got up “from his bed.”

How much of Hashem’s kindness happens behind the scenes?

After hearing of all the miracles of Y’tzias Mitzrayim and K’rias Yam Suf, Yisro traveled to the desert to join the Jewish camp and faith. Moshe provided him a first-hand account of the events, giving Yisro goosebumps. He exclaimed, “Now I know that Hashem is greater than all other powers, for with the very thing that they plotted against the Jews, He punished them” (Sh’mos 18:11). Rashi explains that Yisro was impressed with Hashem’s measure-for-measure response to the Egyptians and all of their schemes against the Jews.

They don’t call them “the magic words” for nothing.

Continuing our theme from last week, Rashi (Sh’mos 7:19) writes that Moshe Rabbeinu could not be the one to set off the plagues of Blood and Frogs by striking the Nile, because he owed a debt of gratitude to the river for protecting him as a helpless baby. Similarly, Rashi (ibid. 8:12) comments that Moshe could not summon the Lice by banging his staff on the Egyptian soil out of a sense of hakaras ha’tov to the ground, which had hidden the Egyptian he killed many years earlier. For these reasons, Aharon was chosen to carry out these makos.