Chaburat Taryag: Parshas Terumah

Hello, dear children! It's Saba Kadisha. Oy, oy, oy! Last week we learned many mitzvos between a person and his friend, and this week, everyone brings a special gift to Hashem. Sunday after school, the four friends came like every week to Saba Kadisha's room. This week we read Parshas Terumah, and it has three things every kid needs to know. Three? Star-counter ready. A star for each one. Easy! Number one: Hashem said to Moshe: Speak to Bnei Yisrael, and let them take for Me a terumah from every person whose heart moves him. Everyone brings what he wants, with a whole heart. And Bnei Yisrael brought gold, silver and copper, cloth of techeiles and argaman, shittim wood, oil for the light and spices, and precious stones. And they brought so much that Moshe announced in the camp: Enough! There's already more than we need. Children, when we give, we don't give sadly or because we have to. We give with a happy and whole heart. That's called being nediv lev, generous. So we give with a happy heart. One star! Number two: some people brought lots of gold, and some brought only a little oil or a piece of cloth, but every gift was equally important. And the Mishkan needed everything: the shining gold, and also the little copper pegs that hold the curtains. Without one little peg, the curtain would fly away in the wind. And what did they do with all the gifts? From the shittim wood they made beams, covered them with gold and stood them in silver sockets. Every little part joined into one whole Mishkan. Children, don't think your gift is too small. Every gift from the heart is very, very important. So every gift is important. Two stars! And number three: Hashem said: V'asu li mikdash v'shachanti b'socham. And inside the Mishkan stood a golden Aron that shone with a soft light, and on it the golden wings of the Keruvim. And in the Mishkan there also stood a golden Shulchan, and on it twelve challos, the lechem hapanim, in two rows, and they stayed warm and fresh all week. And across from it stood a menorah of pure gold, and the whole menorah was hammered from one piece of gold: the branches, the cups and the flowers, all from one piece. Children, Hashem wants to dwell inside each one of us. When we keep our home and the shul clean and quiet, and we daven with concentration, we build a small Mishkan in our heart. So our home will be a holy place. Three stars! The counter is full! And just then, Yisrael came in, and with him Dubi, his little brother. And Dubi was holding a small tzedakah box and said: At the shul they're collecting money for a new paroches for the Aron Kodesh. So here's this week's mission: One: give with a happy heart. Two: remember that every gift is important. And three: keep the shul a holy place. My gadget says: we give with a smile! Come, let's all bring something! I'll bring from the money I saved. The next day, the friends came to the shul and brought the money to the gabbai. And Dubi opened his piggy bank with a big smile and gave everything. Just like in the parsha! We give happily. My gadget says: your heart is shining! And the gabbai smiled and said: What a good heart you have, Dubi! And the first star lit up. But Gadi stood on the side. In his pocket there were only two small coins, and he looked at them a little sadly. It's only a little. It's not important. Gadi, even a small gift is very important. And Gadi gave the two coins happily, and the gabbai said: Every coin helps the new paroches! And the second star lit up. On Tuesday, the friends went into the shul and saw books scattered on the benches and candy wrappers on the floor. Come, let's tidy up and make it a holy place. And the friends put every book back in its place, cleaned the floor and arranged the chairs. And now the shul looks like a small Mishkan. And the third star lit up. My gadget says: a clean place is a happy place. And at the end, the friends and Saba Kadisha sang a happy niggun together. Friends, this week we gave with a happy heart, we learned that every gift is important, and we took care of a holy place. Three stars! The mission is complete! On Shabbos night, at the table, the friends told everyone about the beautiful Mishkan of Parshas Terumah. Dear children, this week you gave with a happy heart, you remembered that every gift is important, and you built a small Mishkan in your heart. And next week, we reach Parshas Tetzaveh. And what will the kohanim wear? We'll see next week! And now, thank you for watching with us, and Shabbat shalom! And next week: special, beautiful clothes for the kohanim, and pure oil for the Menorah. And what else? We'll find out next week!