Shabbat Blast

In our parasha this week, we begin plans to build the Mishkan, the travelling Sanctuary in the desert. God says  famous words in Exodus 25:8, “V’asu li mikdash, veshachanti betocham.” “Make for me a Sanctuary and I will dwell among you.” Where is God dwelling? Do we really believe that God can be contained in one building? Many people approach the synagogue in this way. God and Religion live within the walls of the synagogue and when I leave the magic fades.

The meaning of “Veshachanti Betocham” “and I will dwell among you” challenges us to see that God is not something contained in a building. The essence of spirituality and the magnificent source and flow of creation is between human beings and the work that we do. Rashi explains:  that "Make for me a sanctuary"  means,  “Make for a holy place for the sake of My Name.” The building becomes a source of teaching, a beacon of inspiration and guidance. In other words, the building brings out the best in us. The challenge is to take those experiences, the learning, the prayer, the intense lifecycle moments, and carry them with us out into the world and be inspired in our everyday lives.

Join us tomorrow morning when we will explore how we can even bring kedusha, holiness, even  into the presidential debates and in our interactions with people with whom we disagree.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Bernstein

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Schedule of Services:

Friday 8:00 PM- Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv

Shabbat Across America  Friday, Mar 4 6:30p