Miller's Musings Parshas Terumah: We Are Not Alone

The installation of the Mishkan was by far and away one of the most momentous occasions in world history.  G-d, in all His Glory, would actually choose to allow His Holy Presence to reside amongst the profane and mundane, in a specifically designed parallel of the upper spheres His presence previously inhabited.  To achieve this supreme accomplishment, the instructions had to be incredibly rigorous and had to be followed with meticulous precision.  In order to ensure the required level of exactitude Hashem showed Moshe an image of every component of the Mishkan and was told “and make for Me a Mikdash and I will reside in them.  In conformance with all that I show you, the form of the Mishkan….and so you shall make”.  There are a number of questions on this directive, but to name just one, we may ask for the reason for the double command “to make”, found at the beginning and end of the quote above?  

The explanation provided by the Chasam Sofer questions the ability of a mortal being such as man, to ever create something to match that which is found in the ethereal realms above.  In reality, he says, this is an impossibility, were it not for the fact that when people sanctify themselves sufficiently and make themselves a vessel for G-d, Hashem Himself becomes a partner in all their actions. The first request to “make a Mikdash” refers to this necessity to make oneself worthy of accepting Hashem into their personal being.  Once this is accomplished it allows for the second command, to make the actual Mishkan, since now Hashem has become an accomplice to the creation of this transcendent resting place for G-d’s Presence amongst His people.

Given the ability to connect with others provided by the technology of today, loneliness should be a near extinct phenomenon, yet one might argue that it has never been so prevalent and shows no signs of waning.  For those of us fortunate not to be in the clutches of loneliness our role is to try and provide companionship and friendship where there is an absence of its warmth.  Yet everyone encounters times when they feel without someone to help shoulder their burden and share in their pain.  At these times and for those who constantly feel alone, the knowledge that Hashem is always with us no matter where we are and no matter what are situation, can provide solace and hope.  The more we follow His guidance, the more we make ourselves G-dlike, the closer Hashem is to us and the more our every action is performed in tandem with our Creator.   No one wants to be alone, in fact no one is, but if we choose to do the Will of Hashem we are bringing the most perfect Companion to assist and elevate our every action.  Now that’s the kind of friend we need!

May we Shabbos bring us closer to the truest Friend we can have.

 

לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם