Parshat Terumah (Offering)

The Torah portion is Terumah, Exodus 25:1-27:19. In synagogues using the Triennial system, 5781 is year 2 and the Torah reading is Exodus 26:1-26:30.

Terumah means Offering and this parshah speaks of the extensive offerings collected for the building of the temporary Sanctuary in the wilderness. It provides detailed specs for the Sanctuary and various accoutrements, including the Aron (the Ark, aka Indiana Jones's Lost Ark), the Shulchan (Table), the Menorah (Candelabrum), the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the Ohel (Tent), and the Mizbei'ach (Altar).

There is a special maftir portion (the final piece of the Torah reading) for Shabbat Zakhor: Deuteronomy 25:17-19. A reminder of the treachery of the Amalek, a group that preyed upon the weak as the Israelites fled Egypt. Remember what Amalek did to you... and blot out their memory! This is not a call to genocide but to put an end to those who prey upon the weak.

The haftarah is for Shabbat Zakhor, I Samuel 15:2-34. King Saul is sent to destroy the Amalekites, but he spares king Agag and his men took the spoil against G-d's wishes. The villain of Purim is an Agagite, a descendant of the spared king.

In synagogues using the Sephardic tradition, the Haftarah is I Samuel 15:1-34.