We often think of gifts in a transactional way, something given and then possessed. But what if the greatest gift is actually a deeper connection?
Shemot Rabbah, a treasury of Midrashic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating perspective on this very idea, specifically around the verse "They shall take Me a gift" (Exodus 25:2). It's not just about giving to God, but about receiving something profound in return.
Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen ben Rabbi (and yes, figuring out exactly which Rabbi is tricky here – it might mean a student of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, or simply "the esteemed" Rabbi Berekhya) makes a striking comparison. Usually, when someone sells something valuable from their home, they feel a pang of sadness, right? But when the Holy One, blessed be He, gives the Torah to Israel, there’s joy! Why? Because it’s not a loss, but a “good acquisition” – lekaḥ (Proverbs 4:2). The word lekaḥ itself holds the key. It can mean both “lesson” and “acquisition.”
It’s like receiving a precious heirloom, but instead of locking it away, you're invited to learn from it, to let it shape you.
Think about it: normally, when you acquire something, you're the one responsible for protecting it, right? You buy a new phone, you get a case. But the Torah? The Torah protects its owners! Proverbs 6:22 tells us, "When you walk, it will guide you; when you lie down, it will protect you." It's not a passive object; it's an active force in your life, a shield and a guide.
And here's where it gets really mind-blowing. The Midrash presses further: Usually, when you buy something from the marketplace, you certainly don't acquire the seller themselves, do you? But when the Holy One, blessed be He, gives the Torah to Israel, it's as if He's saying, "It is I that you are acquiring." That is, “they shall take Me a gift.”
The gift isn't just the text, the commandments, the stories. The gift is a relationship with the Divine. It's an invitation to connect, to learn, to grow closer to God.
It's a radical idea, isn't it? That in giving, we actually receive something far more valuable – a deeper connection, a guiding light, and ultimately, a piece of the Divine itself. So, the next time you encounter the Torah, the next time you offer a gift, remember that it’s not just about the act itself, but about the profound connection it creates. What are we really acquiring when we take the gift? Perhaps it's nothing less than a piece of the Divine.