Reciprocity
Throughout all stages in life and the various relationships we develop, we tend to be both a recipient and a provider.
Children are dependent on their parents for food, shelter and basic necessities, while they give boundless joy, Nachas, and love to their parents in return.
Educators and mentors guide and greatly impact the lives of their students by instilling within them exemplary morals and imparting them with invaluable wisdom and inspiration. In turn, students give their teachers and mentors a sense of fulfillment while helping them crystalize and better understand their subject matters.
The same is true in regards to marriage or a business partnership, each spouse or partner is both giving and investing in the relationship while receiving something much greater in return.
In this week’s Torah portion, Terumah, we learn about the building of the Tabernacle and the craftsmanship that was required for its construction. The Tabernacle in the desert, and the subsequent Temple in Jerusalem, served as a home for G-d’s presence on earth and the central location for the Jewish people to congregate and connect to G-d.
The portion begins with the instruction for every person to contribute to the building of the Tabernacle by donating gold, silver, copper and many other materials that were needed. While some of the services in the Tabernacle were reserved for the priests or Levites, the construction of the Temple required the participation and contribution from every individual.
As the verse states: "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 (Exodus 25:2)”.
Interestingly, the Torah chooses the words “take for me” instead of the seemingly more accurate term “give for me”.
Herein lies a fundamental lesson in life. Often, we may feel that we are being generous with our resources, time, and energy by assisting someone in need. In truth, however, by giving and sharing with others, we are actually receiving much more in return.
In the words of the Midrash: “More than the rich person does for the poor person does the poor person do for the rich person”.
While a poor person may be able to buy basic necessities with the help of their generous benefactor, at the same time, they enable the wealthy individual to make a real difference in this world and experience true joy, pleasure and fulfillment through their actions. More so, G-d guarantees us a high ROI when we fulfill the Mitzvah of giving 10% of our income to charity.
G‑d wants to help everyone. So He created a world that has all the necessary resources to feed and shelter each individual and He set up a system to deliver the goods to those who are in need.
There is abundant wealth in the world for everyone to have what they need, there is enough love in parents to care for each of their children, and there is sufficient time in our day to help those in need. All that is required is goodwill and a sense of responsibility on the part of those who have, to share with those who have not.
We are the system. Doing our part to keep the system rolling is called Tzedakah. Although generally translated as “charity,” this term actually means “justice,” since it is only right that we appropriately distribute the gifts that G-d has endowed us with others in need.
Of course, G‑d could just cut out the middleman and feed the hungry Himself. But that would defeat the purpose of creation—to make a world of kindness, where people choose to use their talents and resources to help one another.
Food is not all we need for nourishment. We also have a need for meaning and purpose in our lives. In order to give us a life of meaning, G‑d gives us the opportunity to give. When I help someone more needy than myself, I am also being nourished. I am giving food, but I am receiving much more. I am receiving the gift of purpose.
Although the Temple was destroyed almost 2000 years ago, the Torah instructs each of us to build a personal Temple and sacred space in our own communities, homes and businesses as well. Furthermore, by contributing to its construction, we are not only giving but we are also receiving much more in return.
In the Tanya, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1813) explains that the future Redemption is dependent on our actions in the current time. Although G-d could have just relied on a few righteous individuals or leaders to perfect this world, He chose to give each of us the opportunity and privilege to participate in this monumental task. By doing our part, we will usher in a time of peace, kindness and prosperity for all people on earth and ultimately rebuild the Third Temple in Jerusalem with the coming of Moshiach. May it happen speedily in our days!
