Teruma: Building a human tabernacle united through the inner sanctuary that dwells with each of us

By Rabbi Arik W. Ascherman on February 23, 2007 - ה' אדר תשס"ז

Two days ago I reported on our planting activities in the S. Hebron Hills, mentioning that this week’s portion deals with the instructions for building the mishkan (portable tabernacle). In fact, the next 5 portions deal with this theme. I also wrote that, “As we read in this week’s Torah Portion of all the colorful materials to be used in building a portable Mishkan for the worship of God, may we worship God by building a colorful weave of human relations bringing together all the people who share this Land.” This is midrash, but our sages of blessed memory said that since the Temple that once stood in Jerusalem has been destroyed, an “inner sanctuary” in our must be built within every human being. If we succeed in this task, the inner sanctuary in within the soul of every human being can unite us with of all of our colors and differences.

When I said that the next 5 portions deal with the building of the mishkan, we know that in the middle we read the story of the golden calf. It is amazing how the Children of Israel contributed gold for the calf one day, and then the next day (or the day before according to some commentators) contributed for the mishkan until Moses had to tell them to stop. They had a driving urge to give, and didn’t seem to distinguish what they were giving to. Today also the postive impulses to donate, to build and to draw closer to the Holy take different people in different directions. I write these words after a painful visit to Hani Fakia and his family. They only have left a sanctuary in their hearts because their physical home, like the Temple, was destroyed. On one hand we must oppose with all of our might the violations of human rights such as home demolitions that desecrate God’s name. On the other hand we must also recognize within the people who commit these terrible crimes the impulse to draw near to the Holy that is within them as well, understand how positive drives are perverted, redirect these drives to the mishkan instead of the golden calf, and help these people to discover that the true purpose of their inner sanctuary, the internal and uniting space that knows we should harm no human being. May it be Your Will that speedily and in our day we will merit to worship You by building a human tabernacle united through the inner sanctuary that dwells with each of us.

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Teruma: Building a human tabernacle united through the inner sanctuary that dwells with each of us - February 23rd, 2007

Categories: Teruma
Tags: Emor, human rights, palestinians, settlers