Our Own Personal Mishkan

Parshas Terumah: Our Own Personal Mishkan

In this week’s Parsha we read learn about the building of the Mishkan. The Torah introduces this topic with a command from Hashem: “V’asu Li Mikdash, V’Shachanti B’socham: And you should build me a Mishkan and I will dwell in your midst.” The Medrash famously interprets the word “B’socham” as “B’soch Kol Echad V’Echad.” Hashem, Kaviyachol, asks us each to create him a home within ourselves and he will dwell with each of us. This Mitzvah, request even, comes immediately following the two Parshios that discuss Matan Torah: the actual story of Mamid Har Sinai in Parshas Yisro, and the retelling of the giving of the Luchos and Klal Yisroel’s declaration of “Na’aseh V’nishma” in Parshas Mishpatim. Why is the Mishkan the first order of business following these Parshios? Additionally, what is the secret of “V’shachanti B’socham?” How can we merit this? I think part of the key to answering these questions lies in a beautiful message from R’ Tzadok HaCohen. In telling of the day of Mamid Har Sinai, the Torah tells us that the day began with “Kolos U’brakim: Thunder and Lightning.” These were the sights and sounds that accompanied Hashem’s appearance to all of Klal Yisroel. Yet later on, in relating the story from the Jews’ point of view, that Torah tells us: “V’chol HaAm Roim es HaKolos V’es HaLapidim: The whole nation saw the Thunder and the Lapidim” The Torah switches terms for the lighting portion of the audiovisual effects, so to speak. Why earlier are they referred to as Brakim and now as Lapidim? R’ Tzadok explains that Brakim are flashes of lighting, while Lapidim are torches, and the usage of these terms changes in the Torah based on the changes that Klal Yisroel underwent at Har Sinai. Prior to receiving the Torah, it was possible for someone to have a close to connection to Hashem, but such a connection was only possible if one removed himself from the physical aspects of this world. If one totally rejected the mundane in favor of spirituality, he could in fact forge a close and intense connection with his creator. That type of connection is akin to a flash of lighting, say R’ Tzadok: It is extremely bright, a flash of light during night can seem brighter than the sun itself, but it is also momentary. A connection with Hashem based on the rejection of Hevlei Olam HaZeh is not sustainable, because in the end of the day we are physical beings, and we must eventually sustain ourselves. Kabalas Hatorah, however, afforded us a new way to forge this connection: through Limud HaTorah and performance of Mitzvos, we have the opportunity to have a close connection to Hashem while maintaining our physical existence on this earth. This sort of connection is similar to a torch: it may not be as bright as a flash of lighting, but it burns steadily and continuously. A connection forged through Avodas Hashem is sustainable for the long term, like a torch. That is the reason, R’ Tzadok explains, that the Torah used the term Brakim before Matan Torah and the word Lapidim after Matan Torah: to illustrate the difference in our capacity to connect to Hahsem. Once we have this gift, this opportunity, Hashem immediately asks us to take advantage of it: we can live with him in our lives on a daily basis. We can, in effect, make a Mishkan for Hashem within each and every one of us. How can we do this? “V’shachanti b’chol echad v’echad” Ba’alei Mussar explain that the granular nature of this statement: “each and every one” is itself a message. The Medrash could have said “And will dwell inside you” the specificity of “each and every one of you” tells us that the Derech to this goal is specific to each of us. Every one of us has strengths and weaknesses, specific talents, interests and abilities. We can use these to build our own Mishkan for Hashem to dwell in. We have to do some work to find the path, but it’s there. In a way this is challenging because it removes excuses: “I’m not good at that” or “ I’m not cut out for that” is not an answer, because we all have something that we are “cut out for”. On the other hand this is extremely encouraging: armed with the knowledge that Avodas HaShem and Limud HaTorah allow us to create a close and sustainable relationship with Hashem, we are free to choose the Derech that best fits our personality and strengths. We can each utilize our talents and abilities to create this Mishkan, to live with Hashem in our midst, and to light a torch that will burn steadily. May we all be Zoche to reach this goal in our own ways.