Reb Shlomo's Commentary on Parshat Truma

Making Something Special “Let them take for Me a portion” (Sh'mos 25:2) In Parashas T'rumah we read that G-d told Moshe to tell the children of Israel to give gifts to build the Holy Temple. This gift is called T'rumah. T'rumah means a gift, but it has two more meanings. T'rumah comes from the word "L'romem" 'to elevate.' T'rumah also comes from the word "L'havdil" 'to separate.' On a simple level it means that if I have ten dollars and I give five dollars for the Holy Temple... I separate this five dollars from the other five dollars. As simple as it is, when I am giving for a high purpose, it means I making it high.