CHOCHMAS NASHIM: TERUMAH: BUILDING A TABERNACLE IN MY HEART
By: Suri Davis
There was a very famous song written decades ago, which started with the words, in my heart I will build a tabernacle. So I ponder, how I would build the tabernacle in my soul.
The tabernacle was built with teamwork. The specifications of measurements and material were extremely detailed. Many words and torah portions are used to set forth the materiality of said tabernacle. Why so much emphasis on the building of the building, internally and externally.
Then I ponder, if all this went into building a temporary home, what specifications did G-d use, to create all his creations during the six days of creations, and highest up on the evolutionary scale, man. How much effort goes into researching every single part of our bodies by medicine and biology and artificial intelligence. The complexity of our bodies.
Yet, with all the energy put into the temple and our bodies, we each fill the structure independently and individually. No two people have the same fingerprint, and no two people leave the same footprint on earth.
Each one of us has a body that is unique, and we decide how to use and fill our respective bodies. Each person who went to the holy temple, served in his/her own way. Praying, bringing produce and animal sacrifices, and filing the holy temple with his unique gifts, talents and prayers.
Think of Chana who was barren and prayed to G-d silently in the temple for a child, promising she would dedicate his life to G-d. The holy temple priest, saw her praying and her fervor made him think that she was drunk.
Think of King Menashe who put an idol in the holy temple.
Are we soooo very busy filling ourselves with material specifications of religion that we negate the fundamental meditation of how we are to fill our souls with spiritual wealth, good deeds, charity, learning torah, smiling to all whom we meet.
Chabad.org has daily bits of torah that are easily learned. Take 15 minutes at the beginning of every day to elevate yourself and remind yourself of the prism of Judaism. Torahanytime, YU, OU have free torah classes, in whatever increments you want them. Say shma. Give a dime to charity. Start your day on the right foot.
Tell yourself specifically how you want to fill your temple, your body, and then do it. Because G-d gave you your specific body, and it is up to you to specify how you go about filling it, materially and spiritually. Kindness and charity, give others as you fill yourself. Learning something new in Judaism is inspiring.
MISHE MISHE MISHE MISHENICHNAT ADAR MARBIM B’SMICHA/In the Jewish month of Adar, happiness is increased. Respecting your temple is a good thing.
Shabbat shalom.
-Suri