Thursday, February 27, 2020

Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Terumah

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

R' Frand noted that the Keruvim are mentioned in both Parshas Terumah and in Parshas Vayakhel. In Terumah (25:18) the Torah refers to them as "שְׁנַ֥יִם כְּרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב". In Vayakhel (37:7) the Torah writes "וַיַּ֛עַשׂ שְׁנֵ֥י כְרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב". Although each time they are referred to as two in number, R' Frand explained that there is a difference between the specific word used. The word שְׁנֵ֥י means two things which are the same, however the word שְׁנַ֥יִם means two things which are different. The Keruvim were both angelic, but they were different genders.

R' Frand quoted the sefer Anfei Erez who quoted the Netziv which discussed the use of שְׁנַ֥יִם by witnesses. When the Torah discusses the witnesses needed to testify in a capital punishment matter, the Torah uses the term שְׁנַ֥יִם because the testimony must have some differences. Indeed, the Yerushalmi states that if two witnesses testify exactly the same, to the word, they must be lying and coordinated their testimony to achieve this result.

The Anfei Erez further explained that much like the Keruvim, the husband and wife in a household need to have different derachim in order to have a successful marriage. They also have different roles in the household and in the workforce. When each approaches an issue from a different perspective and in a different way, they can succeed - they should not be completely identical.

R' Frand remarked that Judaism is a role oriented religion. There are Kohanim and Leviim and Yisraelim and they all had different roles when there was a Beis HaMikdash. Similarly, there are the Yissachars and Zevuluns - some who learn and some who support them. 

We can each work together towards a common goal, but following our own paths.

R' Frand also discussed the Menorah, which Moshe was unable to comprehend. The Medrash states that Hashem told Moshe to do it, but he was unable to build it. Then Hashem showed him an image, but still Moshe could not fashion the Menorah. Finally, Hashem told Moshe - throw a piece of gold in the furnace and then the Menorah emerged from the fire.

R' Frand then asked - since Hashem knew that Moshe was not understanding, why not go straight to throwing the gold in the furnace? R' Frand answered by quoting the Sfas Emes who explains that the story of the Menorah is a lesson that even if a person cannot do something on his own, he needs to dream about it and strive for it. When a person truly wants to achieve something and works at it and then prays for help, Hashem may make a miracle for that person. But the miracle does not come on its own - the person needs to want and try for the result.

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