Rabbi Tendler Shiur Notes

Parashat Terumah

February 18, 1999

The interference with man's free will. According to most Rishonim, this happened after Het HaEgel. The aron ha'eidut is where the Torah is - Rashi: Hashem forgave them for the egel. The Or Sameah 1886 says that for near Avodah Zara God could forgive. 3,000 Jews got killed. But for Het haMeraglim - all had to die (regarding religious zionism) because couldn't forgive not having love of Israel. Decision of Hashem - warned not to make an egel, so commands to make a mishkan. Israel wanted a physical representation of God on Earth. If has sanctity, will get power. God said no physical representation. What happened? Midrash Aggadah- Israel said that every other nation has a form of physical representation. God said that do it to a king because if you treat him nicely, he will protect you. Israel - What did you do for me know - too far back to go to Avraham. God: Do what you want, but do so exactly as I say. Not a bad aron, God telling why it's a danger. It doesn't really make a difference if the kohen changes 5 or 6 times. But one false step, and it doesn't work. God is frightened that the mishkan will eventually become a competitor to God, therefore God says to this but only the way I say. E.g. The snake in the midbar - had no sanctity, yet people were doing Avodah Zara to it.

V'yikhu li terumah: Midrash - 33.3 - Pasuk in shir Hashirim - I am sleeping, but [God] is awake. Here, God grew lethargic, apathetic to Israel after the egel. But my heart was awake - and God stimulated me. Take a terumah, because it says Kol Dodi Dofek. God says make me a mikdash, I can't be outside. Purpose of mishkan is to bring God into our consciousness. After egel, realized you could not count on Jews worshiping an intangible God. Aristotle said that God was oure thought. God said no - I understand because that will allow me to impact on your consciousness. How long can I stay outside...and have Israel relate to me.

What the mishkan does is bring God into your life. You can bring yourself to God with Korbanot. In our mind, individual is defined by adadm to makom not to haveiro. Religion has to do with God. Therefore, God wants worship that keeps me in your life. What happens the rest of the time.

33.1 - "Israel is my only daughter - I can't let go" God says to Israel, the Torah is my thought. I can't use the Torah here. The Torah identifies the Jew and identifies God. God lives among the Jews. A Jew is someone who lets God live in his house.