Unity awakens generosity within Klal Yisrael

בפסוק ויקחו לי תרומה מאת כ"א אשר ידבנו לבו.

On the pasuk: "And they shall take to Me a terumah (offering) from every person whose heart moves him to give" (Shemos 25:2).

The Sefas Emes begins with the call for each person to contribute to the Mishkan out of a willing, generous heart.

פי' שצריך כ"א ליקח מן הכלל מכל פרט ופרט.

The meaning is that each person must take from the whole — from every single individual.

"Taking a terumah" hints that each Jew should draw something from the collective, absorbing a unique gift from every other person.

כדאי' איזהו חכם הלומד מכל אדם.

As it is taught: "Who is wise? One who learns from every person" (Avos 4:1).

True wisdom means recognizing that there is something to receive from every single individual.

שנמצא בכ"א נדיבות מיוחד שצריכין הכל ליקח זאת ממנו.

For in each person there is a unique generosity that all must take from him.

Every individual possesses a particular gift or quality that the whole community is meant to draw from.

וע"י התאחדות ונעשין א'.

And through unity, when they become one.

This mutual taking and giving only works when Bnei Yisrael bind themselves together into a single whole.

יכול כ"א לקבל את שלו.

Each person is able to receive what is his.

Only within that unity can a person obtain the portion that truly belongs to him from all the others.

וכמו במה"ש דכ' וקרא זא"ז ומקבלין דין מן דין.

Just as with the malachei ha-shareis (ministering angels), of whom it is written, "And one called to another" (Yeshayahu 6:3), and they receive one from another.

The angels model this: each one receives sanctity from its fellow, calling out to one another in a shared act of praise.

וע"ז כ' עושה שלום במרומיו.

And concerning this it is written, "He makes peace in His heights" (Iyov 25:2).

The harmony among the angels is the "peace in the heavens" that Hashem establishes.

ע"י שמה"ש עושין רצון קונם לשמו ית' בלבד לרומם אותו.

Because the ministering angels do the ratzon (will) of their Maker, solely for His Name, to exalt Him.

The angels act purely for the sake of Hashem's glory, with no self-interest at all.

ולהמרוממים אותו ית' עושה בהם שלום.

And among those who exalt Him, He makes peace.

When their entire focus is to glorify Hashem and not themselves, there is no rivalry, and peace reigns among them.

וכ"כ ויקחו לי תרומה לשמי.

And so too, "And they shall take to Me a terumah" — for My Name.

The contribution to the Mishkan must likewise be given purely for Hashem's sake.

עי"ז יכולין להתאחד כנ"ל.

Through this they are able to unite, as explained above.

Acting solely for Hashem's Name removes self-interest, and that is what allows Bnei Yisrael to become truly one.

והשלימות נמצא תמיד בכללות בנ"י.

And the completeness is always present in the collective of Bnei Yisrael.

The perfect wholeness already exists permanently in the totality of the Jewish people.

רק בכל עת שנעשין א' מתעורר הנדיבות.

Only that each time they become one, the generosity is awakened.

That latent wholeness is roused into active generosity whenever Bnei Yisrael unite.

לכן כ' וכן תעשו לדורות.

Therefore it is written, "And so shall you do for all generations" (Shemos 25:9).

This capacity for generosity through unity is not a one-time event but is meant to endure throughout the generations.

שלעולם יש נדיבות זאת בכלל ישראל.

For this generosity always exists within the collective of Yisrael.

The wellspring of generous-heartedness is a permanent endowment of the Jewish people as a whole.

ולזה הנדיבות זכו בנ"י בקבלת התורה.

And to this generosity Bnei Yisrael merited at kabbalas haTorah (the receiving of the Torah).

This enduring quality of generosity was granted to Bnei Yisrael when they received the Torah at Sinai.

וז"ש במד' לקח טוב נתתי וכ"כ אף סוררים לשכון כו' ע"ש במד'.

And this is what the Midrash says: "A good acquisition I have given you" (Mishlei 4:2), and likewise, "even the rebellious, that Y-ah may dwell" (Tehillim 68:19) — see there in the Midrash.

The Torah is called a "good acquisition" (lekach tov), and the pasuk hints that even the rebellious are included, for the gift of the Torah implants a generosity that reaches every Jew.

שע"י קבלת התורה נשאר נדיבות זאת בלב ישראל שא"י לאבד זאת לעולם:

For through receiving the Torah, this generosity remains in the heart of Yisrael, and it can never be lost forever.

Kabbalas haTorah permanently planted this generous heart within Bnei Yisrael — an endowment that can never be erased.

Summary: The terumah for the Mishkan teaches that each Jew must "take" the unique gift latent in every other person, which is possible only through unity. Like the angels who make peace by serving Hashem solely for His Name, Bnei Yisrael unite when they act purely "for My Name," and their latent collective wholeness awakens into active generosity. This generous heart was granted permanently at kabbalas haTorah and can never be lost — which is why the Torah commands "so shall you do for all generations."