Terumah
The Diversity of Torah
Dear Friend,
At this time of year, I’m always struck by the diversity of Torah. Through Genesis and most of Exodus, the weekly Torah portions followed a storyline narrative. Then we started learning various Torah laws. This week, we began learning the design, architecture and engineering of the Tabernacle (Mishkan) in minute detail.
The entire Jewish nation came together to donate their time, possessions and individual talents to build the Tabernacle . Every person counts, and we each have our own uniqueness that we bring to the table. It is only through a united effort that G‑d’s home is built to its full glory.
The same can be said of the Torah. Every portion adds a new perspective and teaching. It is only through going through the Torah slowly, week by week, that we appreciate its beauty and greatness.
This past Shabbat, we marked the first yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon. If you haven’t yet started learning the weekly Torah portion, then Rabbi Gordon’s lucid, engaging, yet concise class going through the daily Torah lesson is an excellent place to start.
If you already learn the daily Torah, then perhaps consider learning it with an additional commentary. By doing so, you will come to appreciate the beauty, richness and diversity of the Torah even more!
Yehuda Shurpin
on behalf of the Chabad.org
Editorial Team
Think of yourself. As far as you are concerned, if you are gone, everything is gone. And the same applies for every other person on this planet.
How could they use impure animals for the holiest of places?
I feel a little guilty about it and thought maybe I should give it up. On the other hand, am I doing anything wrong by just leaving it there?
A Hungarian Jewish story of hate, discovery and, ultimately, forgiveness.
Foggy, rugged island on the North Atlantic has no Jewish school or kosher dairy—at least, not yet.
Students are coming in from all over the world, to then bring the spirit of the Shabbaton back home.
Sugihara and his wife stayed up all day and night writing visas for the desperate Jews.
My daughter is always complaining that “all the other mothers” always do their children’s projects and homework for them . . .
The thirty thousand men selected to go to Lebanon and chop the lumber for the construction had an interesting work schedule . . .
Imagine a discussion between a refrigerator and electricity. The refrigerator is plugged in and it's cooling food. Now, suddenly, the plug is pulled and the refrigerator says to the electricity, "Where do you go when the plug is pulled?"
Why should I act in a way that contradicts my true feelings? Should I present a façade of calmness even when I really want to lash out in anger?
Many Jews – due to no fault of their own – are not aware of Judaism. Therefore, a campaign was launched to ensure that every Jewish home have a charity box.
“As you know, I am an expert tailor,” said the man, whose eyes still glistened with tears. “I make high-quality clothing for princes, nobles and other fine folks.
I was ready to tell my wife that one of us was going to return to Cambodia to retrieve the medication. And then I stopped. I googled “Chabad Cambodia.”
I knew it wouldn’t be easy to give up my smartphone on Shabbat and the holidays.
I’m married to a man who is extremely easygoing and goes with the flow. I, on the other hand, like to make plans, keep to my schedule and expect other people to do so, too. Our children are half-and-half.
It all began with an unbounded light
that filled all and left no room for a world to be.
Then that light was withheld
so that the world might be created in the resulting void.
Then the world was created,
with the purpose of returning to that original state of light
—yet to remain a world.
That is something greater ...
