EXOD930 The construction of the Sanctuary was fundamentally important because it gave the Israelites the chance to give back to God. Later decisors of Jewish law recognized that giving is an integral part of human dignity when they made the remarkable ruling that even a poor person completely dependent on charity is still obliged to give charity (Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Kilkhot Shekalim 1:1; Hilkhot Matnot Aniyim 7:5). To be in a situation where you can only receive, but not give, is to lack human dignity. The Mishkan became the home of the Divine Presence because God specified that it be built only out of voluntary contributions. Giving creates a gracious society by enabling each of us to make our contribution to the public good. That is why the building of the Sanctuary was the cure for the sin of the Golden Calf. The people that only received but could not give was trapped in dependency and lack of self-respect. God allowed people to come close to Him, and He to them, by giving them the chance to give. That is why a society based on rights, not responsibilities, based on what we claim from -- not what we give to-- others, will always eventually go wrong. It is why the most important gift a parent can give a child is a chance to give back. The etymology of the word teruma hints at this. It means, not simply a contribution, but literally something "raised up." When we give, it is not just our contribution but we who are raised up. We survive by what we are given, but we achieve dignity by what we give