Teruma – United as a Nation

By Rabbi Ezra Friedman

Rav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen (Rav Kook) is famous for, amongst other things, his views on the importance of the Nation of Israel in Judaism. According to Rav Kook, an elemental factor in religious practice is the idea that one must feel connected and dedicated to the whole of the Jewish people. This perspective in no way diminishes the importance of meticulous personal religious practice. However, a Jew who is only concerned about his or her individual service to Hashem, yet feels distanced from Am Yisrael as a whole, is lacking a fundamental tenet of Judaism. This philosophy is not Rav Kook’s creation, but rather, it appears numerous times in the writings of our Sages. Yet, as a result of the oppression of the exile, the idea of “Klal Yisrael” became weaker amongst the ordinary Jew. In this week’s Parsha, we can see this idea being expressed in the strongest possible terms to the Jewish people.

In Parshat Teruma, the Torah goes into great detail surrounding the commandment to build the Tabernacle. Numerous chapters in Sefer Shemot discuss the exact materials and measurements of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and its accessories. Many commentaries discuss the reason why the Torah spends so much time on this specific issue. Perhaps we can offer an additional perspective regarding the commandment of the Tabernacle.

When the Torah begins relating the commandment to build the Mishkan, it states that the first article to be built is the “Aaron”, an ark that would hold the holy tablets (with the Ten Commandments engraved in the stone) and the first copy of the written testament. During the entire description of the Tabernacle, the Torah continuously uses imperative language, such as, “you shall build”, “you shall place”, and “It shall be made”. When the Torah commands the building of the Ark, the Hebrew text is in the plural format, not the singular. When the Torah lists other articles to be built, the imperative language is singular. Why is there such a difference in the wording? The Ramban answers that the Ark represents Torah, since the Ten Commandments are kept inside. The Torah is not just for the holy and intellectual, but rather any one of Am Yisrael can learn and feel connected to the Torah. As such, the commandments relating to the construction of the Ark are in the plural to show that the Torah belongs to all. We can see from the Ramban‘s explanation that the entire nation should feel connected to Torah and that Hashem wants everyone to feel that he has a part in this gift to the Jewish people. Perhaps there is an even deeper level underlying the plural wording. Even before the commandment of the Ark, when Moshe Rabeinu is first told about the Mishkan, the Torah uses this plural language (Shemot 25,8):

וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃

And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.

The plural format continues throughout the verses relating to the commandment of the ark. The change from the plural to the singular when describing the creation of the other holy vessels, is to show that Hashem wants the nation to unite. In fact, the entire purpose of building the Mishkan is to unite Am Yisrael. In order to truly unite the Jewish people there must be a common project, a common goal. After the incredible sanctity of receiving the Torah in Parashat Yitro and internalizing the importance of a civil system in Parashat Mishpatim, Parashat Teruma comes to bring the Jewish people together as a nation through the building of the Mishkan. That spiritual project had all of Am Yisrael involved, and thus, everyone realized the power of working together and the message that real holiness resides when the nation is united. The commandments of the Mishkan begin in the plural to try to instill in the nation the importance of working together. Once Am Yisrael began its mission, the Torah returned to the singular because Am Yisrael didn’t see themselves as individuals doing their own jobs (plural). They saw themselves as a nation, as a singular entity. At a certain point during the building of the Mishkan, Am Yisrael realized they were a nation- united.

This is an important lesson for marriage. When a couple is first married, they need to get used to living with one and another. Initially, they feel as if they are living together as two separate individuals. When their connection grows, they don’t feel like two individuals anymore because they act as a couple and do activities as a family. In order for marriage to succeed, they need to have a common vision, an ideal to work toward and from that, they become one.

As a nation, every Jew must internalize that the feeling of unity is elemental, and that each and every Jew should feel that he or she is one with Am Yisrael and its needs. Although Hashem gave the Jewish people 613 Mitzvot, under no circumstance can one Jew complete all 613 Mitzvot. Some Mitzvahs can only be done by a Jewish king and some Mitzvot are only performed by people in various professions. Some can only be performed by farmers, Jewish priests or teachers. Only Am Yisrael as a whole can fulfill the entire Torah. Hashem commands us as a nation to keep his Torah and not just as individuals. This idea can change and affect the way we serve Hashem and keep his Torah. Just like the Mishkan, today we must find ways to connect to our fellow Jews. We must find projects to connect us and unite us. Through the common missions we not only bond together, we go from being Jews to being the Jewish people.