The Sedra Terumah 5786 – Humans, not God, Create Kedushah

In Parshat Terumah, we ask a fundamental question: Who creates Kedushah? Is it man or is it God? Kedushah is often misunderstood and mistranslated as holy, implying a mystical force inherent in objects or people. However, Judaism teaches that nothing is inherently sacred. Neither places, nor objects, nor people possess sanctity without human action. When God commands the Jewish people to build a sanctuary so that He may dwell among them, it is our effort that creates the space for the Divine. A Torah scroll is not sacred because of the parchment, but because of the scribe’s intention. Even the Land of Israel required the action of the people to become kadosh. We have the incredible power to imbue the physical world with sanctity through our deeds. By building the Mishkan, and by acting in a sacred way, we bridge the gap to the divine realm. Join me as we explore how to use this gift.