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    This week's Torah portion is Terumah and describes in detail the mishkan-the portable sanctuary that accompanied the Israelites in the desert. Thank you to all those who sent me "your Ten Commandments" in response to last week's newsletter. Purim is around the corner with its tradition of sending goodies to friends. If you would like me to subscribe a friend/s to the newsletter, let me know via mjstrassfeld@gmail.com
                                                                                              michael  (michaelstrassfeld.com)

                                                                                                     
Intention/kavana for the week
In medieval castles, the stone windows had larger openings on the outside and narrower slits on the inside, in order to catch as much of the sunlight and focus it inside. The midrash says that the Temple in Jerusalem was built in the opposite manner--in order to capture the inner light of the Temple and shine it out into the world. What if we saw ourselves as miniature temples? We could stop worrying about getting enough sustenance or attention from the world around us. 
Instead, we understand that we have much inner light to share with others and strive to send forth caring, wisdom and support
Song: 
Sanctuary 

 Oh God prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy--
tried and true
And with thanksgiving I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for you.
 
V’asu li mikdash v’shakhanti b’tokham
Va’anakhnu n’varekh yah, mei’atah v’ad olam
 
Translation of  Ex. 25:8:
And they shall make for Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.
And as for us, we bless the name of Yah, from now until the end of time.

 
To listen to the song

 A word of Torah:    
       The Torah describes the creation of the world in thirty-four verses. The second half of the book of Exodus has over 450 verses describing in great detail the building of the mishkan—the portable sanctuary and the making of the priestly garments for those who will officiate in the sanctuary. Why? What is the purpose of all this detail?
        The building of the mishkan/sanctuary is a lesson on how to move from the extraordinary moment of the revelation at Sinai to living in the real world with its everyday challenges. Our life is not lived in extraordinary moments such as Sinai or the special celebrations of life cycle moments like a wedding. Certainly, we should cherish such moments. However, life is lived in the everyday. We are to build the structure of our lives. Each of us is to build a mishkan. It is in the details that our lives are shaped and realized. It is in the kind word, the expression of sympathy, and the friendly smile that builds the mishkan of our lives.
        God says: Make for me a mishkan/sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst.”  (Ex. 25:8). God doesn’t say make for me a mishkan and I will dwell in it. The building of it will lead to God dwelling amidst the builders, the people of Israel. The verse doesn’t even say build me a mishkan and I will dwell within you (singular). Judaism isn’t about you as an individual having your own religious experience. Judaism is about building a life whose details are essentially about how we interact with the people around us, and in our community and across the globe.
        God dwells in the mishkan created by a community for ultimately God dwells in community not in buildings or sacred spaces. The Book of Exodus ends with the building of the mishkan, the vision of a life of holiness and wholeness.
        The other point of building the sanctuary is that the people take on this task. The definition of slavery is a life of dependence. The Exodus is achieved by God and Moses not by the people. In this moment the people finally step forward to actively make the sanctuary a reality. They have become builders, not just in completing the project but in the way it is done. Everyone contributes whatever skill and resources they have to participate in the actual building.
        Even more than a structure, this creates a community. Judaism values the worth of an individual for each and every person is created in the image of the Divine. However, the practice of Judaism takes place in community.
 
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