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Friday February 23, 2007

The best present we can give is the gift of our involvement

Terumah
Exodus 25:1-27:19
I Kings 5:26-6:13

Everyone likes to receive gifts. But what about giving them? Not sure about the right gift to give? What if you had to give a gift to God? Back in biblical days, the Israelites were instructed to bring gifts to God. This week, the Torah portion, Terumah, which means an “offering” or “gift,” lays out clear instructions about the kinds of gifts the Israelites should bring to build a tabernacle, or sanctuary, for God.

The portion begins, “God spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart so moves him’” (Ex. 25:1-2). The list of acceptable gifts included fine metals, multicolored yarns and linens, goats’ hair, ram and dolphin skins, acacia wood, oil for lightening, aromatic spices and incense, and lapis lazuli and other stones.

Why would God be so concerned about each item used in the creation of the sanctuary? Would it really have made a difference if some poor soul brought yellow yarn instead of crimson? Through the ages, various scholars saw in the details of the sanctuary many different meanings; they agreed that the gifts also contained symbolic value.

The commentator, Abravanel, for example, teaches that the menorah is made of pure gold, symbolizing that one must be careful of impure ideas.

The Torah further instructs that the ark was to be overlaid with gold on the outside and inside. Modern teacher Rabbi Hillel Silverman comments that this is the true meaning of integrity. A person’s exterior — his words and deeds — should reflect his inner being and character.

Rashi suggests that the cherubim, the two angel-like creatures placed above the ark, were placed facing each other as symbols for how God wants human beings to care for one another. Thus we learn that God was concerned not as much with the material value of the Israelites’ gifts, but more with their symbolic meaning. It is the thought that counts.

The Torah teaches us a valuable lesson about the kinds of gifts the Israelites were instructed to bring before God during the time of the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness. What would these gifts look like today? If you were instructed to give God a gift, what would you choose to bring?

Although we would probably avoid the tanned ram skins, there are many offerings that God and our community still demand of us today. According to some translations, terumah can also mean “something set apart.” When we offer terumah, we literally give a part of ourselves to God. It is like the words of the prophet Micah, who said, “What does God demand of you? Only to do justice, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

To give of ourselves means that we can give our time and our money. We can choose a Jewish cause to support. We can give our prayers, our thirst for learning and our kindness toward others. We can give our leadership, our vote and our voice. We can give a listening ear and a helping hand.

The best presents that we can give may just be our presence. We can join a synagogue community, attend Jewish cultural events and travel to Israel.

Terumah also means something that is uplifted or elevated to a higher status. When we give these gifts of ourselves, we raise ourselves upward to new levels of holiness, to new levels of godliness.

A Chassidic saying demonstrates the difference between a fool and a wise man: When giving to charity the former thinks it is he who gives, the latter knows that even in giving he receives.

Rabbi Karen S. Citrin is the associate rabbi at Reform Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo.

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