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 prefaced his vort by stating that Parshas Terumah is a parsha which lends itself to homiletics as many derushim are made from the various Klei HaMishkan which are mentioned in the parsha.
R' Frand then focused on the Keruvim (often referred to in English as the Cherubs). The Torah states that the Keruvim were made of gold. The Mechilta (cited in the Rambam Hilchos Klei HaMikdash) states that all of the Klei HaMikdash which were supposed to be made of gold could be made of other metals such as silver if no gold was available...except for the Keruvim which must be made of gold.
R' Frand quoted R' Meir Shapiro who noted that the Keruvim had faces like children. He explained (al pi derush) that the reason why the Keruvim had to be made of gold is because when you are paying for your children's education you can't "go cheap." R' Frand observed that R' Meir Shapiro lived this way as while many of the Yeshivos in Europe were inferior buildings, R' Meir Shapiro made sure that Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin was an edifice.
R' Frand gave a second explanation as to the link between Keruvim-children and gold. He said that when you deal with children you need to let them know that they are as precious to you as gold. A child who knows that he is important to you will have a good self image, whereas child who thinks that he is worthless will have a very difficult time in life.
R' Frand noted that there was once a famous actor named Zero Mostel. He explained that the name Zero was a nickname (he was born Samuel Joel) and that this was because his father who was frum was frustrated that Zero did not want to learn in Yeshiva and would tell him that he was going to be "gournish."
R' Frand said a third explanation about the connection between Keruvim-children and gold. He said that much like the way that you safeguard gold, you need to keep your children safe. Even when your child asks you - but why can't I do what --- is doing, you need to respond "because you are special and I want to keep you safe."
R' Frand quoted R' Chaim Shmulevitz who connected this with the story of Shimi Ben Gera. When Dovid HaMelech was about to die, he instructed Shlomo on how to "take care" of Shimi for cursing him. The instruction was not to simply kill him, but use your wisdom to do so. Implementing his father's instruction, Shlomo instructed Shimi to build a house in Jerusalem, but you cannot leave it. And on the day that you leave it and pass Nachal Kidron, you will be killed as one who rebels against the king. Shimi swore that he would obey.
Shimi stayed in Jerusalem for three years, but then when his slaves ran away, Shimi chased after them and left Jerusalem. The word got back to Shlomo and he reminded Shimi of his swear and then had him executed.
The question that R' Chaim asked was - there are many people who live in Jerusalem today who have never left. Its one of the nicest places in the world to live, so why did he leave? Couldn't he have sent someone else to chase down the slaves?
R' Chaim answered that people can stay in one place, as long as they are not required to stay. But if a person is instructed that he can't leave, then he is itching to go.
R' Frand quoted R' Shimshon Pincus who asked - why does the Kohain Gadol not have this problem? Why is he also not itching to leave? He answered that the Kohain Gadol is given this instruction as a badge of honor and the room in the Beis HaMikdash is a sign of prestige.
If a person is required to stay because of his honored role, he does not fight it. But if he feels its a burden then he wants to leave.
R' Frand said that there is a take home lesson for us as parents. We give our children rules and they always ask - why am I different? The answer needs to be - because you are special and we need to keep you safe.
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