Parshat Terumah: Building a Sanctuary Within
A Torah and Tea Discussion
In this week’s portion, Terumah, we transition into a very technical discussion regarding the construction of the Sanctuary, known as the Mishkan. The verses go into great detail about the collection of materials—the specific items donated by the people to construct this holy space.
What is a Mishkan?
A Mishkan is essentially a place for God to dwell. Today, we do not have a physical Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple), but the Mishkan served as a mobile, temporary dwelling place while the Jewish people were in the desert. They would erect it when they camped and take it down as they moved. Eventually, when we entered Israel, a permanent home for Hashem was built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. While that was later destroyed, we live in constant anticipation of its rebuilding.
However, the concept of the Mishkan remains relevant. Think of it like a synagogue—a holy place for prayer, study, and closeness to God. What is most striking is that this holy sanctuary was built from very mundane materials: gold, silver, copper, and wood. The lesson here is that we are meant to take the ordinary and transform it into something holy.
Making the Mundane Holy
Most people invest their best efforts into building beautiful homes for themselves, making sure they have the latest amenities and comforts. Yet, Halacha (Jewish law) teaches that the synagogue in a community should be its most beautiful building. It is a Mikdash Me'at—a miniature sanctuary.
Even without a physical Temple, our job is to make the entire world a place where God feels at home. We do this through good deeds, Torah study, and mitzvahs. When a person works hard all day, investing their energy and "koach" into their profession, and then uses the return on that investment to build a Jewish home or give Tzedakah, they are turning physical effort into a dwelling place for the Divine.
"I Will Dwell Among Them"
Chassidus points out a fascinating grammatical detail in the verse: "Ve'asu li mikdash veshachanti besocham"—"Make for me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them."
Grammatically, it should have said "within it" (besocho). By saying "among them," the Torah teaches us that God doesn't just dwell in the wood and stone of the structure; He dwells within the people. Every individual has the responsibility to make themselves a Mishkan.
Building this internal sanctuary requires two steps:
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Cleaning House: We must clear out negativity—depression, hopelessness, and negative traits like jealousy, envy, or hate.
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Furnishing with Light: Once the "house" is clean, we bring in the positive: a love for God, Torah, and our fellow human beings.
The World as a Garden
The Rebbe, in his first discourse, cited a teaching from his father-in-law: Hashem loves this world and views it as His garden or orchard. However, when people act incorrectly, they effectively "push" the Divine presence away, causing it to retreat through the seven heavens. It is the work of the righteous to draw that presence back down.
We make our own homes a "small sanctuary" by:
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Affixing a Mezuzah: The letter Shin stands for Shaddai, but also Shomer Dalsos Yisrael (Guardian of the doors of Israel).
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Filling the home with Holy Books: A Siddur, Chumash, Tehillim, Tanya, and a prayer book.
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The Charity Box: The Rebbe suggested nailing a Tzedakah box to the wall so that the very structure of the house becomes an extension of kindness.
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Shalom Bayis: We strive for "Peace in the Home." The word for man (Ish) and woman (Ishah) both contain the word for fire (Esh). When there is peace, they share the letters of God’s name (Yud and Heh).
The Beauty of the Tachash
Finally, we look at the unique covering of the Mishkan made from the skin of the Tachash. This was a colorful animal that existed only temporarily. Rashi notes that its name, Sasgona, implies it "brags" of its beauty.
The Rebbe explains a deep lesson here: While other parts of the Mishkan were beautiful because they were dyed or painted (like makeup), the Tachash was inherently beautiful. Its beauty was natural and came from within.
In our service of God, we shouldn't just do a mitzvah to "get it over with." We should strive for Hiddur Mitzvah—beautifying the mitzvah. Whether it’s being extra scrupulous with Kosher or cleaning for Pesach, that extra effort shows that the mitzvah is dear to us. Just as you want a personal celebration to be the "party of the century" because it matters to you, your mitzvahs should be performed with excitement and beauty.
Increasing in Joy
Today is Rosh Chodesh Adar. The Talmud tells us that when Adar enters, our joy increases. This month, we celebrate Purim, remembering how God turned our fortunes around (Venahapoch Hu).
Rosh Chodesh is also a special holiday for women, a reward for their refusal to participate in the sin of the Golden Calf. As we enter this month of joy, may God grant us miracles—both nationally and individually. May we move from the joy of Adar to the freedom of Nissan and the final redemption with Mashiach, speedily in our days. Amen.