February 20, 2026 – Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
Terumah 5786 (2026)
Exodus 25:1-27:19, 1. Kings 5:26–6:13
Terumah, the name of this Torah portion refers to a donation or offering. These are donations to God.
Instructions
The Torah portion starts with instructions about donations or offerings.
“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.” (Exodus 25:2 NIV)
The Torah then moves on to building God a dwelling place or sanctuary.
“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:7 NIV)
The instructions for building an Ark are detailed too.
“Have them make an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.” (Exodus 25:10 NIV)
The most known and visible symbol until today connected with Judaism is the seven-branch candelabra. Intended to give its light outside the temple, it has been depicted by numerous artists and decorates many homes.
“Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. (Exodus 25:31-32 NIV)
Solomon’s Temple
The accompanying Haftarah portion refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. It is the story of a young and inexperienced man starting to build a temple. There is also a promise by God.
“As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel. (1. Kings 6:12-13 NIV)
The State
Amazingly, throughout the Diaspora Jews had been wishing for their return to Jerusalem. This seemed impossible. But in fact in the terrible years of the Holocaust in the 1940’s, it was closer than ever.
Young people from various countries of Europe left (already before the catastrophe) to what was then the British Mandate in Palestine. They started building in difficult circumstances. They escaped the Holocaust and prepared the way for the State of Israel to be reborn in 1948.
It was not enough to give out the Declaration of Independence. Institutions existed and there was an orderly Zionist Executive ready to take power. When David Ben Gurion declared independence in May 1948, the state was prepared to function as such.
Jesus: destruction and return
As we know, Jesus predicted the destruction of the Second Temple.
“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” (Luke 21: 6 NIV)
Jesus also predicted the grim times of Diaspora and Jerusalem’s desolation would come to their end.
“They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24 NIV)
*For an explanation of the terms see the first The Torah Portion Blog.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:3 NIV
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105 NIV
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Isaiah 60:1 NIV
…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
Torah Scrolls were attacked and desecrated during the Holocaust. The enduring images of the Kristallnacht (November 9-10,1938) are those of synagogues on fire and Torah Scrolls burning. Some of these desecrated Torah Scrolls disappeared, others were buried. Some were lovingly rescued and are on display in museums in various locations.
