The omnipresence of G-d is a fundamental Jewish belief. Why then do we limit His dwelling to a single structure?
In the last two parshas we learn of the first divine revelation to the Jewish nation: Matan Torah – the revelation at Sinai. This week begins the detailed instruction of the construction of the Mishkan. Upon completion, the people experienced a second divine revelation.
There is a crucial difference between these two rendezvous with G-d.
Leading up to the revelation at Sinai, G-d warned the people not to touch the mountain. Since it would serve as the physical location of such an intense G-dly revelation, a mere mortal would die by simply touching the mountain. However, once the spectacle was over – it was a mountain like any other. In fact, Judaism finds no interest in locating Mt. Sinai in the desert, as it currently contains no divine uniqueness. After the pomp and ceremony of Matan Torah, it remained mundane as ever.
The divine revelation in the Mishkan (and subsequently in the Temples in Jerusalem) is a different story altogether. Since the inauguration of the Mishkan, the divine presence has not departed the subsequent structures built throughout our history. Even after the destruction of the Temple, the divine presence remains at the same spot.
The contrast is striking as the lead up to these respective events. Whereas Matan Torah excluded human involvement, the building project of the Mishkan necessitated the financial and labor participation of the entire Jewish nation.
When the people erect a beautiful and quality structure for G-d as they would their own homes, they express their desire to have G-d dwell in their midst. Then, the divine presence is not limited to the dedicated structure; it finds expression in the homes of every individual. The Mishkan is a symbolic of the fact that G-d is a desired presence in our lives.
Wherever there is a community of Jews, it is crucial to construct a special home for G-d – the synagogue. It should be beautiful, comfortable and conducive to being a welcoming place for everyone to connect with G-d.
I invite you to join us in bringing this project to fruition in El Paso. Together we will construct a beautiful edifice where every Jew in town can join in prayer, study and celebration of our beautiful heritage.