Parshat Terumah Schedule

The beit midrash is missing three volumes of the Artscroll Talmud: Pesachim v. 4, Moed Katan, Sanhedrin 1. If you have any of these volumes, please return them to the library.

Weekly Words of Torah

The Utensils and their Lessons

Insights into Parshat Terumah by Mr. Yosef van Bemmelen of Yeshiva Sha’alvim, by Rav Re’uven Ungar of Sha’alvim.

In Parshat Terumah we see many different measurements for the different objects in the mishkan. For example, the Aron is two and a half amot long, one and a half amot wide, and one and a half amot high. The Shulchan is two amot long, one amah wide, and one and a half amot high. Many commentators ask why these measurements are written in the Torah and what is the significance of these different numbers?

The Kli Yakar in the beginning of this week’s Parsha says that these numbers represent the perspective a person should have towards different things in life. The Aron represents learning Torah and Avodat Hashem. In these areas a person should always feel that they are still working and have not reached the highest level, which is symbolized by the Aron’s measurements being partial units. The Shulchan on the other hand represents wealth and prosperity. In this area a person should always feel that they are complete and that they have everything, like the Mishna in Pirkei Avot which says that a rich man is someone who is content with his lot. Therefore two of the Shulchan’s measurements are complete numbers. However, the height of the Shulchan is a fraction, which the Kli Yakar says teaches that although a person should feel wealthy they shouldn’t feel higher than others who may be less fortunate.

Perhaps the materials of these kelim also teach us about the proper perspective. The Aron, representing Torah was covered in gold on the outside as well as the inside. This could mean that a person should not only learn Torah but should also internalize the ideas and values. The Shulchan, which represents materialism was only covered on gold on the outside. This might show that prosperity is valuable on a superficial level but is incomplete by itself, represented by the lack of gold covering inside.

We can also learn from the fact that the Aron and Shulchan had poles attached to them at different times. The Aron always had poles in it which were never allowed to be removed, while the Shulchan only had poles when it was being moved. This shows us the role of Torah that it is always being carried by Bnei Yisrael, unlike the Shulchan representing materialism which is only carried when needed to be.

We should all be zocheh to do good things IY”H.