A Tabernacle of Hope – Terumah

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I must admit, it was quite difficult to extrapolate an inspirational message from this week’s parsha, Terumah. It mainly discusses details and instructions on building the Mishkan (Tabernacle).

The golden Mishkan (tabernacle) that held the tablets of the 10 Commandments inside. On top are two cherubs with eagle wings.

The entire Torah is a manual for life. However, there are certain areas where the instructions are overtly, well, instructional. Often, there are examples with allegory or a motif attached. However, this week simply comes across as “connect A to B, C to D, and E to F.” It’s hard to find or even see any inspiration in that. However, we can be sure that the materials G-d instructed the Jews to build the Tabernacle with were not chosen at random. They had very specific purposes and specific correlations to our everyday lives.

In this video I discuss the materials used and how they correlate to various sins Jews committed through the ages. These materials correspond to the atonement for those sins. This teaches us that there’s always hope for atonement and teshuva (repentance). G-d constantly presents us with opportunities to turn everything around; to change the err of our ways. It is up to us to make those changes and put the “raw materials” He gives us to good use. The Tabernacle represents a physical amalgamation of these opportunities.

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This is how the Jews camped in the desert. The Mishkan was in the center and the smoke clouds are from the sacrifices and offerings to HaShem.