ON THE PARSHA
          Parshas Terumah

          by Dovid Lipman, Jerusalem


The World Of The Supernatural

     (25:10) "...its width two and a half amos..." The
gemara tells us that although the Aron was a physical
object, it took up no space in the Beis HaMikdash (Yoma
21a). The Maharsha there explains that since Hashem's
presence, the shechina, resided there, it was impossible
for the Aron to have physical properties, and therefore,
the law, "two objects cannot occupy the same place at
the same time" simply did not apply to it.

A Time To Laugh

     (25:35) Rashi tells us in the name of the Midrash
that Moshe had problems with the menorah; i.e., he
could not grasp its design. Perhaps that's why his
stutter came back when he retold Hashem's command, as
is obvious from the frustrating repetitiveness of this
pasuk.

Worthy Of Note

     (26:33-34) "Bring the Aron inside the Paroches,
and the Paroches will divide ... and put the Kappores
on the Aron in the Holy of Holies." The separating of
the placement of the Aron and the Kappores with the
statement, "the Paroches will divide," comes to teach
us an important principle for understanding Hashem's
service. Rashi, explaining the word Paroches, says it
serves to separate the king from the nation. The
Kappores signifies the forgiveness ("kapparah") we get
from the Mishkan. So the pasuk tells us we can only have
our forgiveness (from the Kappores) if we remember the
separation between us and our King - He will not forgive
us if we forget who He is.

From the Gemara

     (26:35) Yoma 33b - The golden altar must be placed
in the Holy slightly off center, so the Menorah in the
south will be facing the Table in the north, with nothing
in the way, as implied in this pasuk.
     (27:18) Eruvin 23b - Since the coutyard's dimensions
could obviously not be fifty amos by fifty, this may hint
to the area of seventy and two-thirds amos squared which
is the largest area that can be a private area for carrying
on Shabbos without being residential.
     (27:18) Eruvin 2b - The gemara discusses the idea of
proving that the standard height of a door be five amos,
like the door of the courtyard was.

Rare And Unusual Words

     (25:8) "Mikdash". The gemara (Eruv. 2a) notes that we
see here that this term, normally denoting the Beis
HaMikdash of Yerushalayim, can also be used to describe
the Mishkan in the desert.

Mitzvah Digest

95) All Jews are responsible to build a special House for
    G-d's presence, according to its laws, for our service.
96) One may not remove the carrying-rods from their rings
    attached to the Aron.
97) A Kohain must place the showbreads on the Table before
    G-d, to bring His blessing upon our sustenance.

[Overflow from Mishpatim]
57) An appropriate person must deal with a case where one
    watched another's property for free, acc. to the halacha.
58) An appropriate person must deal with all lawsuits acc.
    to the halacha concerning the plaintiff and defendant.
59) An appropriate person must deal with a case where one
    rented property, or watched it for pay, acc. to the halacha.
60) An appropriate person must deal with a case where one
    borrowed another's property, according to the halacha.
61) A qualified court must deal one who seduces a virgin,
    according to the halacha.
62) One may not allow one who tampers with nature by the
    use of magic, to live.
63) One may not hurt a convert, even with words, for they
    have no one to protect them.

64) One may not cheat a convert in monetary matters.
65) One may not pressure with actions or words any widow
    or orphan, for they have no one to protect them.
66) One must lend money to a poor person who needs it, to
    relieve the burden.
67) One may not demand payment from a borrower who one
    knows cannot pay, to teach us mercy and kindness.
68) One may not participate in any way in a loan with
    interest between to Jews, for it destroys people.