This week Hashem says:
“וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ — Make for Me a sanctuary,
וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם — and I will dwell among them.”
It doesn’t say that Hashem will dwell “in it (the sanctuary)” — but “among them.”
The Mishkan (Tabernacle) wasn’t just about building a structure. It was about creating people and a community where Hashem could dwell. Hashem wasn’t just looking for a house to live in, but for a people to dwell among.
Hashem didn’t need gold or silver. He asked for willing hearts:
“מֵאֵת כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ” — From anyone whose heart inspires him.
The Mishkan was built from contributions — small, personal offerings.
We’re all building something: careers, homes, relationships, futures.
Terumah asks:
Are we just building structures — or are we building space for meaning?
Holiness isn’t about architecture. It’s about intention.
This week, consider one small “terumah” you can offer — a moment of reflection, a meaningful Shabbat experience, an act of integrity or kindness.
Small contributions, given with heart, build something far greater than we imagine.
Shabbat Shalom,
Shmuel Klein
