The Torah commands:
“וְיִקְחוּ־לִי תְּרוּמָה” – “And they shall take for Me a donation.” (Shemot 25:2)

Am Yisrael had just witnessed the greatest miracles in history—Yetziat Mitzrayim, Kriyat Yam Suf, and Matan Torah. They stood at the peak of spiritual elevation. And now, Hashem asks them to give.

But not just gold and silver—something far greater.

The wording is striking. Why does it say “take for Me” instead of “give to Me”? Chazal explain that true giving is not about loss, but gain. When we give to Hashem, we acquire something eternal—we dedicate a part of ourselves.

Rav Moshe Feinstein notes that giving is not just about money—it’s about time, effort, and heart. Hashem does not need our wealth; He desires our commitment. We carefully give maaser (a tenth) of our income—but what about our time? Just as we set aside money for tzedakah, we must also set aside time—for learning Torah, for tefillah, and for others. Whether it’s studying with someone who struggles, listening to a person in need, or offering our heart to those who feel alone, these are the true gifts that build Hashem’s presence in the world.

The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 95) teaches that Hashem did not need the Mishkan—we did. The true Beit HaMikdash is built within us. Chazal teach that every mitzvah, every act of kindness, every moment of devotion lays another brick in the Beit HaMikdash.

Shemot is called Sefer HaGeulah—the Book of Redemption because geulah is not just about leaving Egypt. It’s about bringing Hashem into our world and building a home for Him.

And this is the message of Terumah:
Geulah is not something we wait for—it is something we build.

Every tefillah, every mitzvah, every chesed, every helping hand that we give, every listening ear, every moment of true devotion—each one brings us closer to the final redemption. Let us not only give, but take this opportunity—to dedicate ourselves to Hashem.

Because when we do, we are not just part of history—we are part of the Geulah Sheleimah.