Terumah Excerpts
תרומה
Shabbat Shalom
You build stuff. You make it look nice. You put an artisan on it. Not like the plumbing in this building...
This is why we still have the building fund. You built this place with so many flaws. The Tabernacle had a blueprint. Why? Because of safety. Rain does not pour through the cracks when you build it right the first time. When you build it right, there is no need for a thermometer outside the shul...
(27:1-2) You make the altar of Acaia wood. That is how you build it. You don't use oak. Why the ark in this shul is make of oak is an anomaly...Pine, I can understand. You built everything in this shul of oak and now we still have to run the building fund...We ran out of money Bernie, because we had no plans.
But you cover it with copper. That is how finish the altar. You don't start sacrificing on wood. You don't put together a BBQ on wood. The wood goes up in flames, and then the altar doesn't last.
But we have no money for copper in this shul. Can't even afford a BBQ with tin covering.
(27:3) The cleaning utensils and basins, you make of copper.
(27:7) You put the copper covered staves on the sides of the altar. 'The staves shall be on 2 sides of the altar when it is carried.'
You don't put them on one corner. You have to carry it. One staff on each side. That is why I had to get involved in the architecture of this addition to the rabbis study. Yes, it was not relaxing enough for the congregants. You come in and it is not comfortable. Sitting in a corner of the room, like everybody that has a meeting with me is being punished. A couch that didn't contour to the arms, like trying to carry a box from the corners and not the sides. I needed the fish tank...You don't build like a fool. Because then you have to do renovations...
It should be called a 'Renovations Fund.' Maybe a 'We Messed Up The Building Fund.' The thermometer should show the sick people who have no idea how to build and throughout the non-profit money.
(27:8) It was hollow, as 'you were shown on the mountain., so shall they do it.'
You don't start with your own ideas, after the plans are put together right. That is how you build something holy. You don't build a beehive apartment complex like we have in Ramot. It is embarrassing. Any extension to the building looks even more messed up. Like a congregation of inept bees built it...
H' is the architect. In this shul, it was the board...
You cover correctly. You cover with kavod. Everything in this shul has been finished with varnish. No metals. Varnish...Because we ran out of money Bernie.