By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
EL CAJON, California — Want to grow happier and more joyful than you are? Terumah teaches us a way – give. Want to live with a sense of abundance and not scarcity? Terumah has a way – give. Want to heal and not hurt? Terumah has a way – give. Gifts of ourselves and of our actions will carry more positive impact in our lives than the actual gift we donate. Read on…
The story is told of a little girl flying her kite on a windy day near the beach. The kite was so flying so high up in the clouds, it couldn’t be seen. A stranger walked up to her and asked her what she was doing.
“I’m flying my kite high up in the sky, mister,” she said.
He replied, “What? I don’t see any kite. How do you know it’s up there?”
The little girl smiled, and said, “Mister, I know it’s up there because…I feel the tug.”
This week in parsha Terumah, (“gift,” “portion’ or “offering” depending on whether you read the Jewish Publication Society, the Stone edition, or the Soncino chumash ) we learn the many specific details of the building of the Tabernacle, Hashem’s dwelling place. It says in the parsha, “And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst.”
The Malbim, (Rabbi Meir Leibush ben Yechiel Michel) understood this pasuk as, “I will dwell within them,” that is, among the people, not within it, the sanctuary. Making a sanctuary is understood to be the requirement for Hashem to dwell within us. We cannot be passive and expect Hashem to dwell within us. We are wise to take the first step. He doesn’t live in a building, isn’t restricted to one place, but rather lives within us, our hearts and minds. Though we no longer have the Mishkan or Beit Hamikdash, our synagogues, homes, and hearts can be sanctuaries. We honor this by building and maintaining our shuls with dignity and respect, ensuring our prayers are filled with kavanah (concentration) and devotion. When we create a space for Hashem, He remains with us always.
Do we need a sanctuary to know, to feel, Hashem’s presence and that He dwells in our midst? Or like the little girl flying her kite, do we “feel the tug” wherever we are? Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk teaches us that “G-d dwells where we let Him in.”
Where do you let Him in? What sanctuary in your life have you built for Him to dwell within you? Does Hashem really need a sanctuary, or does He recognize that we need to participate in building one so that we feel, know, that He is within ourselves? The answer is clear, isn’t it? Rabbi Isaac Abravanel raised this, “Why did [G-d] command the erection of the tabernacle, when [G-d] said “that I may dwell among them,” as if G-d were an object demarcated and limited in space—which is the opposite of the truth!… After all, G-d himself spoke these words through the prophet Isaiah (66:1): “The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what kind of house can you build for me?”
Answers Maimonides in Sefer HaChinuch, “Know, my child, that any commandment that G-d requires of humankind comes only out of G-d’s desire to benefit us . . . G-d’s command to build the Tabernacle, for us to offer therein our prayers and sacrifices, comes not out of G-d’s needs to dwell in an earthly dwelling among humankind, but rather [out of G-d’s awareness that we need] train our own selves”
Of course, everyone’s involvement is different in how one makes Him a sanctuary. Indeed, the parsha begins with “Speak to the children of Israel and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering. And this is the offering that you shall take from them: gold, silver, and copper” (Exodus 25:2-3). Rashi and other commentators teach us that the gold and silver were voluntary gifts, from open hearts, those that are open to Hashem. Regardless of one’s financial means, there was opportunity enough to make a proper donation.
Whether it’s our shul, the schools in our community, or another favorite charity, it is important to keep in mind the lesson of Terumah. When we give tzedakah we distribute Hashem’s gifts as His gabba’ei tzedakah and we receive, we never lose, we only fully benefit. The physical world is not ours to begin with, so when we give, we receive blessings from Hashem. We are simply responsible for distributing His bounty. When we give from our hearts, Terumah teaches us, we ultimately benefit from connecting with Hashem.
In the sacred journey of spiritual growth, the concept of mesirut hanefesh—the willingness to transcend our egos in service of Hashem and others—holds profound psychological and religious significance. The Hasidic masters teach that in moments of true devotion, we break through the walls of self-protection and open our hearts to the indwelling of the Divine Presence. This vulnerability, far from weakness, is the path to spiritual elevation and connection.
Giving, in the Torah’s vision, is not an obligation imposed from without, but a stirring of the heart—a posture of generosity and good will. Rashi emphasizes that this kind of giving is marked by ratzon tov, a full-hearted intention. To give with an open heart is to elevate both the giver and the gift, raising it toward divine glory.
Through the lens of mental health, when we open our hearts to others with genuine care and without expectation, we create space for Hashem within us to shine forth. This giving, this terumah, is not only a religious act but a deeply human one—a way to liberate ourselves from the prison of ego and to experience the vitality of authentic connection.
Nathan and Isadore Straus, pioneers of a retail empire including Macy’s, took a life-changing trip to pre-state Israel in 1912. Nathan and his wife Lina, moved by the poverty they witnessed, chose to stay and help, establishing soup kitchens and charitable institutions. Meanwhile, Isadore and his wife Ida returned to America aboard the Titanic. Isadore refused to take a lifeboat ahead of women, and Ida chose to stay with him, giving her place to her maid. Nathan and Lina’s decision to remain in Israel saved their lives, and Nathan saw this as divine intervention. In gratitude, they dedicated the rest of their lives to philanthropy, giving away two-thirds of their fortune to charitable causes, including founding schools, clinics, and supporting Hadassah Hospital. The city of Netanya and Straus Street in Jerusalem honors their legacy. This story beautifully illustrates the Talmudic wisdom: “Tzedakah tatzil mimavet” — “Charity saves from death.”
Winston Churchill wisely noted, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Giving goes beyond charity; it brings happiness, purpose, and connection. The word ‘Terumah’ shares a root with ‘Ram’ (uplifted), showing that when we give, we elevate not only others but ourselves.
Until now, Bnei Yisrael had only received—manna, water, shelter—becoming dependent and prone to complaints. But Hashem, in His wisdom, gave them the opportunity to give.
In Parshat Terumah, Bnei Yisrael give generously and, in return, receive the divine presence in the Mishkan. This beautiful cycle of giving and receiving fosters community, purpose, and spiritual upliftment, a firm foundation for emotional wellbeing. The more we give of ourselves, the greater and more connected we become.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun.