“And you shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits its length, one cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height.” (Parshas Teruma, Shemos 25:23)
Abba was giving out candies at the Shabbos table as a reward for answering the questions correctly.
“Ok, now, how about this one,” began Abba, “Who knows how long was the Shulchan in the Mishkan?”
“Two ammos!” cheerfully screamed out Chaim and a second later caught the candy that Abba threw in his direction.
“I have an idea!” said Aaron, “Let’s measure with our elbows and see how many amos is our dinning room table!”
Abba smiled at Aaron and said, “That would be fun to see. But remember, Aaron, we’re not allowed to measure on Shabbos, unless it’s done for a mitzva.”
“Even if we’re measuring just for fun?” wondered the youngest son Ephraim.
Abba looked at Ephraim and said, “I see what you’re saying...Since there is no purpose for it, maybe such measuring is permitted...”
Question: Can the table be measured now?
Parsha’s Teruma makes us think again about dedicating some of our possessions for a mitzva. The following story will help us gain a new perspective on wealth.
In 19th century England there lived a famous Jewish philanthropist, Reb Moshe Montefiore. Queen Victoria once asked him, "Sir Moses, what is the extent of your wealth? How much do you own?" Sir Moses told her it would take a few days to do some accounting, and afterwards, he would reply.
When Sir Moses told her his wealth she became upset saying, "How could it be! Everyone knows that you have far greater wealth." Sir Moses explained that he considered as his true wealth whatever money he gave to tzedakah. Anything else that he possessed was only temporary and could be confiscated or lost.
A verse in the Torah says: "And every portion from any of the holies that the Bnei Yisroel will bring to the Kohen shall be his" (Bamidbar 5:9). The words "will be his" in the verse seem superfluous. With the phrase "will be his" the Torah is emphasizing that people should always consider their monetary wealth as temporary, and whatever one gives to charity "will be his" - his real wealth that will remain with him forever.