A Home For G-d

This week’s Torah reading contains the commandments to build a Temple in Jerusalem. It describes the pagan practice of offering sacrifices in many places and explains that the Jews should not worship G‑d in such a manner. Instead, they should construct for Him a Temple and offer their sacrifices there.

The commentaries offer two explanations for this command:

a) that the Jews have a centralized place for worship;

b) that G‑d have a dwelling place in this world, a place where His presence would be revealed and manifest.

Both of these motifs are significant. One of the fundamental principles of Judaism is that our relationship with G‑d is expressed as a people, a nation with a shared identity, not merely a group of individuals. True, the Divine service of every individual is important, but G‑d also looks at the nation as a whole. To emphasize this point, sacrifices may be offered only in one place.

But over and beyond the service of the Jewish people, the Temple exists as — to quote this week’s Torah portion — “the place which G‑d chose to cause His name to rest.” This is the fundamental purpose of the Temple: for there to be a place where G‑d’s presence will be visibly perceptible.

The lack of such a place is the true hardship of exile and the motivation for our hope and expectation for Mashiach’s coming, may it happen immediately!

Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat Candle Lighting Time in NYC: Friday, 7:46 PM