Terumah- Shared Reading

Torah Portions 2.7: Shemoth (Exodus) Chapters 25:1-27:19

Hebrew Word/Phrase of the Week: Terumah

Meaning: ‘Contribution’

This week’s Torah Portion is called Terumah (תרומה), because of the contribution that YHWH says they should take up for him. In this Torah Portion, YHWH reveals instructions for his Tabernacle, the ark, his menorah and more.

Chapter 25: Last week, we left off with Moshe going up into the midst of the mountain to meet with Elohim, and he was there 40 days and 40 nights. And YHWH spoke to Moshe, and said to speak to the children of Yashra’el so that they take up a contribution for YHWH. Everyone whose heart moved them could give a contribution to YHWH’s special tent (mishkan). These gifts included gold, silver, bronze, blue and purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goats’ hair and rams’ skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for sweet incense, shoham stones, and stones for the kohanim (priests) to wear.

YHWH also gave instructions on how to make the ark. They needed to use acacia wood and overlay it with clean gold on the inside and outside. The poles and rings had to be made from acacia wood and gold also. YHWH instructed Moshe that the ark should have two kerubim made of gold at the ends of the lid of atonement, and that YHWH would speak to the children of Yashra’el from there. He also included specific instructions on how to make the special menorah that’s pattern was shown to Moshe on the mountain.

Fun Fact: Acacia has many uses! Did you know that acacia can be used as a fragrance, a folk medicine, a preservative, incense, timber, and even the seeds are used as food in some countries? Some acacia’s are also fire resistant.

Chapter 26: Next, YHWH reveals to Moshe more about the Dwelling Place. He explains details about the beautiful curtains and instructs that they should be made of fine blue, purple and scarlet linens. The hooks are made of gold and the boards made of acacia wood and gold. The curtains were also designed with keribum by skilled workmen.

Chapter 27: In front of the mishkan (tent), there would be the slaughter place made of acacia wood and overlaid in bronze. Even the pots, shovels, basins, forks and fire holders were all made of bronze!

To be continued… Next week!

Want to know more? Join us next time as we read more about the Exodus!