Parshas Terumah

1. List at least one connection the numbers 1-13 have with the משכן.
Who knows 1? I know 1! 1 is Hashem.
Who knows 2? 3? 4? 5? 6? 7? 8? 9? 10? 11? 12? 13?

1 – Hashem
2 – The לוחות (Tablets), כרובים (Cherubim), בדים (Poles), ידות (Handles), the length of the שולחן (Table), and the height of the מזבח הזהב (Golden Altar).
3 – The three boxes of the ארון (Ark), three coverings of the משכן (according to one שיטה), three entrance curtains, three areas in the מקדש (Temple), and the height of the מזבח החיצון (Outer Altar).
4 – The four טבעות (Rings), the width of the יריעות (Curtains), the number of coverings of the משכן (according to one שיטה), the קרנות (Horns) on the מזבחות (Altars), the עמודי הפרכת (Pillars of the Partition Curtain), and the עמודי מסך החצר (Pillars of the Courtyard Curtain).
5 – The בריחים (Bars) on each side of the משכן, the length and width of the מזבח החיצון (Outer Altar), the עמודי מסך האהל (Pillars of the Entrance Curtain of the Tent), and the number of parts to three of the halves of the יריעות.
6 – The six branches of the מנורה (Menorah), the six primary כלים (Vessels) of the מקדש, and the number of parts to one of the halves of the יריעות.
7 – The seven נרות (Lamps) of the מנורה.
8 – The eight קרשים (Boards) on the מערב (West Side), and the total number of בדים (Poles) in the מקדש.
9 – The nine פרחים (Flowers) on the מנורה.
10 – The ten parts of the יריעות האהל (Tent Curtains), the height of the קרשים (Boards), the height of the ארון (Ark), the width of the משכן (Sanctuary), and the length of the מכסה (Covering) on top of the משכן.
11 – The eleven parts of the יריעות המשכן (Mishkan Curtains), and the eleven כפתורים (Knobs) on the מנורה.
12 – The twelve לחם הפנים (Showbread) and the width of the exterior of the משכן.
13 – רש”י (Shemot 25:2) says there were 13 items needed for the donation of the משכן, and according to one opinion, the בריח התיכון (Middle Bar) went around the entire משכן.

2. What is mentioned numerous times in every פרשה but in this week’s פרשה only once?
משה (Moshe) – In פרשת תרומה, Moshe’s name is mentioned only once (in שמות 25:1), whereas in most other פרשיות, his name appears many times.

3. List six things in the משכן that were square.

• מזבח החיצון (Outer Altar) – 5×5 אמות
• מזבח הזהב (Golden Altar/Incense Altar) – 1×1 אמות
• שולחן (Table of the Showbread) – 2×1 אמות (rectangular but still included)
• חושן המשפט (Breastplate of the כהן גדול) – 1×1 זרת (a small square)
• יריעות עיזים (Goat-hair Curtains) – The תקרה (Roof Covering) was made of square sections
• ארון הברית (Ark of the Covenant) – The top was square in some opinions

4. Out of the six כלי המקדש, which two similarities were unique to the ארון, מזבח הזהב, and שולחן?

• Each had a זר (golden crown-like border).
• Each had טבעות (rings) and בדי עץ (poles) for carrying.

5. The name of which person from the מגילה (although with different נקודות) is found in this week’s פרשה?
אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu) – The name אֱלִיהָב (Oholiav) appears in the פרשה, and it shares the same letters as Eliyahu (Elijah).

6. “We have a connection to a river. We were the result of laziness. We each have an equal amount. We are mentioned in this פרשה. Who are we?”
אדנים (Sockets of the משכן) – They were made from כסף (silver) donated through the מחצית השקל, which was equal for each person.
They were the base of the קרשים (Planks), which were connected in a way that related to stability, like a riverbed holding water.
Some say that the need for אדנים resulted from laziness, meaning the people’s reluctance to give willingly led to an equal donation instead.

7. “He and I were used for the same purpose. Some say we were one unit, others say we were two. His source has a connection to one of our greatest זכותים. My source is shrouded in mystery. We are both mentioned in this פרשה. Who are we?”
כרובים (Cherubim) and ארון (Ark) – Both were used for the same purpose – the שכינה (Divine Presence) rested between them.
Some say the כרובים and the ארון were a single unit, while others say they were separate.
The gold used for the כרובים is associated with the זכות (merit) of עם ישראל.
The source of the design of the כרובים is unclear—why angelic figures were used remains a mystery.