Several biblical commentators have noted how so much time and care is devoted to the gathering of materials for the Mishkan...
Several biblical commentators have noted how so much time and care is devoted to the gathering of materials for the Mishkan, the earthly edifice representative of the indwelling of the Divine Presence. Thirteen chapters! The Creation story was one chapter! Only three chapters are devoted to the Revelation at Sinai and just eleven chapters for the Liberation narrative in Exodus.
Creating a sacred space/place on earth is so critical in the development of the nation. In the second verse we see how each person is asked to participate willingly, from the heart. Making a structure, curtains and vessels that are truly infused with the divine, needs to be done with love and intention. The people are invited to bring gifts, from the most precious metals to less expensive items such as skins, wood and incense.
Everyone is invited, no matter what their economic status.
A biblical commentator offers that this consciousness should be ever present in all things that we create. Sadly, this is not the case. We look at our buildings and our institutions and we too often see how they are deficient in reflecting the presence of the divine. Tragically, we see how many industries are devoted to creating weapons of war and polluting our air and water. There seem to be many less institutions devoted to peace, building bridges of understanding and protecting our earth. Are nations devoted to creating institutions and objects of Godliness? Are Russian tanks on the border of Ukraine infused with goodness and loving kindness? Are they there to help the farmers?
Verse 25:8 really brings it on home. “And let them make Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell in the midst of them.” Commentators teach that each of us is a Mishkan, a holy dwelling place for the divine, a microcosm of the universe. All the details described in the Parsha in the making of the Mishkan are also the details of our own lives and how we seek purposefulness in everything that we do and in all relationships that we have. Our physical being, our Adonim, our ball and socket joints, like the Adonim of the Mishkan, needs our devotion, for it houses the presence of the divine.
Make our joy increase this Adar!
Reb David