Taking is Giving2 min read

This week’s parsha opens with the commandment of “Vayikchu li Terumah”, “And take for Me an offering”, the contributions made by each individual Jew to the Mishkan. Rashi comments on the word “li” with a single word – “L’shmi”, “For My Name’s sake”. The contributions were to be given with intent to honor and glorify the Master of the world.

Many of the commentators note the strange wording of “Vayikchu li”, “And take for me.” Wouldn’t it have been more proper to write “Vayitnu li terumah”, “And each of you shall give Me an offering?” Why do we mention “taking” in the context of klal Yisrael’s giving “li-l’Shmi”, to the Master of the world?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe zy”a answers that the Torah uses this wording to teach us a very deep lesson. When a person gives tzedakah, the act is presumably performed “lishmah”, for the purpose of fulfilling the mitzvah of Hashem. However, the person who receives the tzedakah, the beneficiary of this mitzvah, is usually preoccupied with his own needs and personal gain. He doesn’t view his receiving the tzedakah as being part and parcel of the mitzvah. In his mind, the mitzvah of tzedakah involves the giver alone, leaving him, perhaps, with enough funds to cover next month’s rent, but no closer to the Master of the world. The Lubavitcher Rebbe writes that the wording of this verse reveals a different perspective. “Vayikchui”, even the Jew who is on the receiving end of tzedakah, must do so “li – l’Shmi”, with the holy intention of one who performs a mitzvah. Because Hashem desires the world to be filled with acts of kindness, there must necessarily be those on the receiving end. It therefore emerges that, in his passive role of receiving the tzedakah, the pauper is – in a certain way – actively giving to Hashem by enabling His vision for a world of kindness to come to actuality.

Perhaps this idea may be extended to the general situation of our relationship with Hashem as well. As a whole, we are collectively a nation of receivers. Even the wealthiest individual stands before Hashem, the ultimate Source of blessing, with an outstretched hand – humbled in his realization that without Hashem’s constant assistance, he would have nothing at all. Oftentimes, like the pauper mentioned above, we view our role in this Giver/receiver relationship as praying for our needs and then rejoicing over our answered prayers in the form of all kinds of success. But perhaps, based on this idea, we may suggest that there is another element as well: our passive act of receiving Hashem’s bounty is itself a form of avodas Hashem. “Vayikchu li – L’Shmi”; while it may seem as if Hashem sees us as weak and impoverished, in truth, there is tremendous power in our role as receiver. In a certain sense, Hashem “needs” us to receive so as to reveal His goodness in the world. Accordingly, a Jew’s first reaction to good news of progression and success should be “lishmah”, to focus on the avodas Hashem involved in fulfilling our Father in heaven’s ultimate dream. “Vayikchu li – l’Shmi.”