THE WORLD YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN

Parashat T’rumah 

1 Adar 8, 5784 / February 16-17,2024
Torah: Exodus 25:1 – 27:19
Haftarah: 1 Kings 5:26 - 6:13

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.
 
This d'var torah is offered in memory of all the victims of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. Y’hi zikhronam liv’rakhah – May their memories be a blessing. And may the memory of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah and all their supporters be forever erased.
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On Monday, February 19, we'll be at BT Shabbat 138b, page 201 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 –  "... אמר רב עתידה תורה שתשתכח"  - "Rab said: 'There will a time in the future when the Torah will be forgotten....'”

 
Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630   
 
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria:
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  
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Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about our various programs and becoming a Member at: https://bnaihayim.org/ 
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com 
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!משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה - With the beginning of Adar, we increase joy! (BT Ta'anit 29a) 

HERE'S A LITTLE PURIM TORAH CONTEST 

As this is a Jewish Leap Year, it raises a question, and the person who gives me whatever I believe to be the best answer will be awarded one slightly used bottle of slivovitz (the decision of the judge and the amount of slivovitz he drinks from the bottle are in his sole discretion and are final): Since we are instructed by our rabbis to be joyful in Adar, and Adar is twice as long this year, does that mean that we have twice as much joy this year than in non-leap years, or, does it mean that on any given day in the months of Adar, we are only half as joyful as we would have been in a non-leap year because our joy must be spread over twice as many days? There is no right or wrong answer! Be (very) creative with proof texts!
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.

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THE WORLD YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN
 
“Speak to the Children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering; from every person whose heart so moves him you shall take My offering.” Exodus 25:2

The Tabernacle in the Wilderness (illustration from the 1890 Holman Bible)

The word “v’yik’khu”, usually translated here as “that they bring”, literally means “that they take”. The idea is that the Israelites willingly take from among their possessions and donate for the building of the tabernacle. Some commentators understand the verse to mean that leaders of the people are to “take” up a collection. However, the Hasidic master Menachem Mendel of Kotzk has a different “take” on the matter (pardon the pun).

He teaches that “v’yik’khu” also means to trade or engage in business. Simply because one has a setback in business, he doesn't stop trading, for then his business will collapse completely. The Kotzker says that the same is true for the Torah and the mitzvot. If one does not succeed once or twice, he must nevertheless continue to work at self-improvement, and not give up.

This all seems straightforward enough. But then he says, “If the Torah is not learned and the mitzvot not performed, the world simply cannot exist.” This is an astonishing statement! The world needs Jews who actually practice Judaism! Even if one disagrees with him about the state of the world (I happen to agree with him wholeheartedly), one cannot dispute the state of the Jewish people, which needs Jews who practice Judaism! If all we have is an identity fostered by lox and bagels (foodaism), or observance limited to a once a year visit to the synagogue (nostalgic tourist Judaism), or if we treat Judaism as being primarily for children (juvenilism), we simply will not exist as a people. If our children see that Torah and mitzvot mean little to us, they will wonder why Judaism should mean anything at all to them. But if we live Jewish lives, then the Jewish people will survive and thrive.

“Take” the time to offer your heart and your mind and your limbs for learning and for doing Jewish. It might just save the world.
 
Be Happy – It’s Adar! Shabbat Shalom!

Grand Rabbi Abba Reuven ben Menachem Mendel Flom, Sh’lita
Der Heiliger Sherman Oaks Rebbe - Emeritus
Av Beis Din - Chelm

!משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה
Mishenichnas Adar, Marbin B’simcha - From the beginning of Adar, we increase joy!
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