Irving, who was a good swimmer, knew that his friend could not swim. He immediately spotted him and tried to help. But it was to no avail. As much as he begged Seymour to give him his hand, he would ignore him. He, in fact turned away defiantly.
When Irving finally returned to shore without Seymour, he found himself standing face to face with Seymour wife who demanded an explanation.
The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Terumah – To Give Or To Get?
Irving and Seymour were good friends. They enjoyed their retirement years fishing and boating together. One day as the two were out on the water, a storm blew in out of nowhere. Before they knew it, they were in the water gazing at their capsized boat.
Irving, who was a good swimmer, knew that his friend could not swim. He immediately spotted him and tried to help. But it was to no avail. As much as he begged Seymour to give him his hand, he would ignore him. He, in fact turned away defiantly.
When Irving finally returned to shore without Seymour, he found himself standing face to face with Seymour wife who demanded an explanation.
As he described what happened, the woman insisted on knowing exactly what words Irving used in trying to help her husband. “I repeated the words GIVE ME YOUR HAND, GIVE ME YOUR HAND over and over,” said the perplexed survivor.
Before he could finish the sentence, the woman poignantly declared: “Oh Lord, you killed my Seymour!”
“Martha, have you gone mad?” cried Irving, “I did everything possible to save him.” “Irving, Irving, you should have known better than to ask Seymour to give you his hand. You know Seymour didn’t give anything to anybody. You should have said Take my hand, he would have responded immediately!”
This week’s Parsha – Trumah, recalls the first fundraising campaign in Jewish history – the original United Jewish Appeal – debut of the venerable tradition of Jewish philanthropy. The funds were used to build the Sanctuary in the wilderness and for the materials needed in its sacred services.
The Rabbi of Ruzhin once remarked: While some claim that “If you give you are a fool and if you take you are clever,” Jewish tradition teaches that those who give and think they are only giving are, in fact, the fools. But those who give and understand that they are also receiving are truly wise.
The strange thing about giving is that we actually get more than we give, and not just in some remote paradise, but in the here and now, we all know the adage: “What goes around comes around.” Many of us can relate to this on a personal level. We have actually felt the tangible and material rewards derived from our generosity.
Still, there is more to giving. The very performance of an act that is right and noble generates a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that no amount of getting can rival. In the words of one wise man: “The takers of the world may eat better, but the givers of the world sleep better.”
This may explain the Torah’s unusual phraseology: v’yikchu li terumah–“and they shall take for me a contribution.” Would not the word give be more accurate? In the above light, however, the word take is actually appropriate. It is the Torah’s way of teaching that to give is to receive.
In this spirit, I would like to offer you an opportunity to give:
As you may know, our big event of the year, the Annual Purim Celebration is just around the corner, and we are still in need of sponsors. Just click here http://www.chabadjacksonville.org/Purim/reserve.htm to become a sponsor online, or call us at 904-262-6641. If you cannot afford a sponsorship perhaps you can help by purchasing a ticket or two. In the merit of this mitzvah may you be blessed with health, and prosperity.
Gut Shabbos
