"Take for Me..." (Audio)

​By Rabbi Moshe Goldberger 
 
An insight on parshas Terumah: This week the Torah says “Vayikchu li terumah -- Take for Me terumah.” Now the words seem strange, take for Me, so the Targum says “Va’akshun kodomi -- Before Me.” Separate before Me terumah. But Rashi says “li” means “lishmi -- For My name.”

​We learn here a great lesson. Rabbi Miller zatzal would speak of the concept which the Mesilas Yeshorim says, that “kol inyonei ho’oylom nisyoinois heim lu’odom” — everything is a test for a person.

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So when a person is giving some charity, he has to know it’s a test. What does he think he’s doing. Is he giving something to Hashem? What does that mean? Everything is Hashem’s; Hashem doesn’t need our money. Hashem has as much as He wants. Hakodosh Boruch Hu is The Creator of everything and has no shortages.
 
But it’s an opportunity for us to be able to participate; like the gemara says, “asser bishvil shetisasher” when you give a tenth to charity, you will become wealthy measure for measure.

Instead of giving to Hashem, He is giving to us

When you give you’ll be receiving. So “Vayikchu li” you're taking for Me and Rashi says “li: lishmi” for Hashem’s name. Think about Hashem’s name, Hashem is The Borei Olom, He’s The Creator of all. He is The Hashem, adon hakol, The Master of all “hoyo hoveh vayiheyeh” He was, He is, He will be.
 
So we have to realise that instead of giving to Hashem, He is giving to us. He giving us the opportunity to partake of a great mitzvah and when we can give, we should have a smile on our faces and be thankful, be grateful, it’s a test to see how we will react and approach a great mitzvah, opportunity.