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Why does the Torah (תורה) use 'take for Me a donation' rather than 'give' when describing Mishkan contributions? The independence that Torah grants inevitably leads to rebellion, as seen in the Golden Calf incident where the Jewish people's sense of eternality made them feel they could demand space from God. The Mishkan represents God's revolutionary response: rather than removing our independence, He chooses to dwell among us, honoring our importance by coming to us.
This shiur explores a fundamental paradox in the Torah (תורה)'s language regarding the Mishkan. While building the Mishkan involves giving donations, the Torah says 'Vayikchu Li Terumah' - 'take for Me a donation.' The speaker connects this to the Midrash's observation that Torah itself is called a 'lekach' (taking), raising the question of what exactly we are 'taking.' The analysis begins with a Gemara (גמרא) in Brachos explaining that unlike human sellers who become sad after selling something valuable, God remains happy after giving us the Torah. This prompts the question: what exactly did God 'sell' or give away at Mount Sinai that He might have cause for sadness?
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Parshas Terumah - Vayikchu Li Terumah
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