Exodus 25:8
וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃
And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.
The idea that we can build anything that can house the distinct presence of God should give us pause. The whole notion is mystifying. Divine presence concentrated and experienced through a physical structure is almost a paradox. God is beyond physicality, yet the Israelites are called to build a structure of metal, wood, leather, and wool in which the presence of God will dwell. How is this possible?
Consider the fact that, without giving it much thought, we experience this miracle every single day. Each of us is a living expression of this mystical relationship between the physical and the metaphysical. Our bodies are as physical and material as anything. Flesh and blood, organs and nerves create the physical stuff we are made from. Taken together, it’s really a remarkable collection of diverse natural materials. And for what? This body houses a whole person: an intellect, consciousness, a personality, hopes, dreams, a whole human soul.
How is it that physical stuff, when combined in this way, can embody a soul? How is it that consciousness, awareness, the most mysterious aspects of life are possible because of this combination of flesh and blood? That is the mystery. So too with this tabernacle. When taken together, the materials of this edifice can house not just a distinct soul, but the source of life itself.
Holiness is not merely something separate from the physical world but something that emerges from within it. Just as our bodies are sacred spaces where the intangible resides, so too the Mishkan is not just a building. It is a meeting point between heaven and earth, and like our bodies, a space where the infinite touches the finite.the Moses of the burning bush ever have believed he could give such a speech? When we have the courage and faith to push ourselves beyond what we deem possible, we discover strengths we didn’t know we had, realizing a potential that God saw all along even when we had our doubts.rt us in our times of need, and when things are well, helps us maintain gratitude and a check on our ego. I understand the desire of the officers in Catch 22 to have a break from God. But the Jewish way is to embrace God in all aspects of life, not as an intrusion but as a companion, a guide, and a source of meaning.t that in a moment our lives can change for the better too. Our job is not only to hope, but expect that good will come when we least expect it in stature and authority in Egypt and save an entire region from famine.