D'Var Torah, Adar 27, 5764 (March 20, 2004)
Some Thoughts on Building a Sanctuary
by Faith Schuster
Today’s portion is a double portion (Vayak’heil and
P’kudei), the last two chapters in the Book of Exodus.
Exodus begins by recalling the sons of Jacob who came to Egypt
with their households, referred to in the Torah as “B’nai
Yisrael”—children of Israel. At the end of Exodus, the
people are called “Beit Yisrael”—House of Israel—not
individuals, but instead a community with a common destiny. The
word “house” signifies unity and permanence and suggests
that those who belong to it share a common purpose, even when they
disagree. Perhaps one of the reasons the “children of Israel”
became the “house of Israel” is that building the Tabernacle
(the subject of this parasha) unifies the people and restores their
relationship to God (after the golden calf disaster). The term “house
of Israel” conveys a timelessness that includes every generation
of Jews…even us here in Brattleboro in 2004.
The details of the building of the sanctuary (mishkan) in this
portion are fascinating to me because it is such a timely subject
for our congregation right now. Earlier in Exodus we are introduced
to what might be the very first fund-raising brochure, beginning
with this powerful campaign slogan: “And let them make Me
a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8) We
may believe that the Divine Presence is everywhere, but most of
us would still like to know a specific place where God lives and
we’d like to be able to visit God there. For this reason,
people contribute time, energy, and possessions to build beautiful
sanctuaries to insure God’s presence and protection. We may
know all the while that God dwells among us only when our individual
and community lives reflects the values of justice and mercy, but
community life seems to require institutions, and institutions require
buildings. Building a house where God dwells requires hearts that
are moved to create sacred spaces in which we can gather to pursue
justice and treat one another with fairness and mercy.
In parashat vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20), just after the golden
calf incident, Moses tells the entire Israelite community: “This
is what God has commanded—take from among you a contribution
to God. Everyone whose heart is generous shall bring as a contribution
to God--gold, silver, copper, fine linen…” and other
gifts to help create the sacred Mishkan, and, he tells them, “All
the skilled workmen among you are to come and make everything God
has commanded.” The whole assembly then left Moses and “everyone
who felt moved, everyone whose mind was willing, brought special
contributions to God for the construction of the Mishkan…men
and women came bringing brooches, earrings, rings, and pendants—gold
objects of all kinds…” Isn’t that a wonderful
image? Many people, “moved by their hearts,” bringing
their personal possessions to support the greater needs of the community.
I hope that we have hearts as willing, and that we are moved to
meet the challenges that we face in our community as we look toward
having a building in which God can dwell among us.
In Exodus 38:21-40:30 (parashat p’kudei), great attention
is paid to the minute details of building the sanctuary, not just
an architectural plan but an aesthetic vision that reminds us of
the importance of building beautiful houses of worship—the
beauty being a sign of respect and love. For several years now BAJC
has been working on both architectural plan and aesthetic vision,
hoping to create a space that truly reflects our relationship to
God. Adele Lander of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles
said that the planning and building process “will be infused
with spiritual meaning if we keep in mind that what we are doing
is honoring God and Torah by creating a special place in which to
worship.” BAJC needs this kind of vision from everyone in
the community.
Did you know that the Israelites “of willing heart”
brought to Moses freewill offerings every morning…”morning
after morning people continued to bring their voluntary offerings,”
bringing so many items in just a few days that Moses had to order
a “cease-bringing” to avoid having a surplus of materials
for the building of the Mishkan? Wouldn’t it be wonderful
if the same thing happened in our community-- if, nail by nail,
beam by beam, chair by chair, fixture by fixture, we create a home
as filled with love as was the house the Israelites built? Wouldn’t
it be wonderful if each and every one of us participated with a
willing heart to create a sacred Jewish space right here in Brattleboro?
The Book of Exodus opens with a narrative of misery and oppression
but closes on a note of confidence and hope. “B’nai
Yisrael” has become “Beit Yisrael.” At the end
of Exodus, with the Mishkan completed and ready to move with the
people, the Israelites set out on their journey with God as a constant
presence.
I hope that, as we work together to build an outer sanctuary on
Greenleaf Street, we also work on building an inner sanctuary of
heart and soul so that we may continue our journey with the presence
of God in our midst.
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