Inner reflections, Divrei Torah and Growth in Spirituality

Shavua Tov

דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ לִי תְּרוּמָה מֵאֵת כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ תִּקְחוּ אֶת תְּרוּמָתִי.

Rabbi Sacks points out the tremendous gift given by HaShem to Bnei Yisrael through the commandment which opens yesterday’s Parasha. Until this point our people had been totally passive: rescued from Egypt; saved at the Red Sea; fed by manna and their thirst slaked by miraculous waters.

But true redemption and transformation can never emerge from total passivity. HaShem commands the Jewish people to give: to give of themselves and if their possessions. And this act of giving changes everything.

From a narrative of passive receiving (and seemingly endless complaining) there is a total change in mood. The one word that defines the Parasha is ועשית – and you shall do; which is repeated countless times: creating a mood of incessant action.

Whilst we all receive everything from HaShem who is all and the source of all, we are expected to be agents of change. True partners of HaShem spreading holiness Beracha and good.

And it all starts with the simple act of beginning to give: of ourselves and of our means.

May we merit to always be among the givers and doers: thus elevating ourselves and the world around us to a level of קדושה.

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם