The sedra of Terumah deals with G-d's instructions for the building of the Mishkan - the Tabernacle. At first it seems difficult to glean much meaning from what appears to be a highly complex guide to the Mishkan's construction, which is detailed right down to the last cubit. However, if you take a closer glance and look past the complexities, there is a great message here which concerns the unity of the Jewish People.

The Menorah is a symbolic pointer for this theme. In Terumah, G-d explains that the entire Menorah will be made from one piece of gold - one beaten work. This candlestick possesses a sense of unity and is in essence a definition of that all-important word, pluralism. It symbolises the need for every Jew to cast his/her talents into the common fire, for G-d will mould these, just like the Menorah, into a united Judaism. The only guarantee for Jewish survival is Jewish unity - if everyone critices each other, we are moving in the wrong direction. But if we all accept each other then these talents will blend into the melting pot.

Judaism, like the Menorah, is the product of every Jew's input. The seven branches of that Menorah can be seen as differend approaches to Judaism; the light emerging from all the branches travels in the same direction, but comes from many different angles. Similarly, however far apart those branches may seem at the end, they are all from the same base.

This lesson of acceptance is found again in Terumah. G-d tells Moshe to say to Israel..."that they take Me for an offering". In other words, no gift is given directly to G-d, instead, each individual's contribution is given to the community who then hands it over for G-d's divine purpose. Thus it is not the individual but the community as a whole which must fulfil G-d's commandment to build a sanctuary for Him. It is the community working as a strong unit which fulfils the Mitzvah. Only by doing this as a nation of Israel can we complete G-d's desires.

It seems that many of our Rabbis and community leaders could learn a few lessons from Terumah. Only by uniting, only by loving and respecting ALL Jews, whatever direction they may choose to take, can we fulfil the will of G-d and bring Him a little closer to us. Where is our unity today? Without that there is no real faith.