Welcoming G-d

This week’s Torah reading discusses the collections for the construction of the Mishkan. This portable Tabernacle served as the Temple in the desert and in Israel until King Solomon built the “permanent” one in Jerusalem.

The first in a long and distinguished line of rabbinic fund-raisers, Moses put the word out that he would be accepting donations.  He requested “*gold, silver, copper, sky-*blue wool, dark red wool, wool died with crimson worm, linen, goat’s wool, reddened ram’s skins, blue-processed skins, acacia wood, oil for the lamp, spices for the anointing oil, and sardonyxes and other precious stones…They will make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in them.” Exodus, 25:3-8)

“I will dwell IN THEM.”  It would seem more logical to write, “They will make for me a sanctuary, and I will dwell IN IT”.  In fact, we are told that G-d “limited” His presence, and somehow made the Mishkan, and later, the Temple, and today, the Temple Mount as a special place where the Shechina, G-d’s Divine Presence, rests.

However, perhaps of greater significance, is the fact that by making a building for G-d, we are inviting Him to dwell IN US.

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Allow me to share with you the comments I made at a funeral several years ago.

I used to be the rabbi of a small synagogue in Kingston, New York.  Although the Shul was orthodox in affiliation and practice, a very small percentage of our members were actually orthodox.  One of our members once asked me to buy him some Tzitzis in New York.  Tzitzis are the fringes that are worn on a four-cornered garment, such as a Tallis that is worn in Shul.  (See Numbers, 15:37-41 and “Fringe Benefits”.) In addition to the Mitzvah of wearing the large Tallis during Morning Services, there is also a Mitzvah to wear a smaller Tallis throughout the day.  (Most people wear this garment beneath the shirt, although some Chassidim wear it over the shirt.)

At this gentleman’s funeral, I mentioned his pride in this particular Mitzvah.  Many people, I said, pray to G-d in the morning, and then put away their Tallis and say good-by to Him for the rest of the day.  By wearing this small Tallis throughout the day, we take G-d with us to work and to life.

This is the message of “they will make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in THEM.”  Of what value is a Shul, beautifully decorated with expensive wood and precious stones, if that is the place where we tell G-d to hide?  After we come to G-d’s house to pray, we must take Him with us when we leave. When we go about our daily lives, at work, at the dinner table, and in the gym, we must always remember that wherever we go we are in G-d’s house, as long as we are willing to invite Him in.

Have a great Shabbos.

Rabbi Yerachmiel Seplowitz