Pekudei 5761
March 18-24, 2001-by Reb Yosef

How Can We Bring Hashem Into Our World?

This week, we read the end of Sefer Sh'mot (the Book of Exodus).  The very end of this Parashah talks about how God's presence descended in a cloud upon the Tent of Meeting, the Tabernacle.  In other words, God's very presence was in this world.  This creates a question for us.  What was it that bought God's presence here and does this give us some idea of what we need to do to bring that Presence back? 

I think we can see the answer at the end of the previous chapter. 

This Week's P'sukim - Perek Lamed-Tet (39): 

42. Like everything that Hashem commanded Moses, so did the Children of Israel perform all the labor:

43. Moses saw the entire work, and behold! -- they had done it as Hashem had commanded, so had they done! And Moses blessed them: 

Our Sages tell us that something very special and unique happened at this point in the history of B'nei Yisrael (the Children of Israel).  Each person worked together with only one thought in mind - creation of a place that was fitting for Hashem.  If we look closely, we can see two things not one.  The creation of the perfect Tabernacle was one.  The other though is just as important - maybe more so.  That every Jew worked together for this one thing - not thinking about their own glory or honor but completely the glory and honor of Hashem. 

Perhaps that is what we have to do to bring Hashem back to this world. 

With best wishes for a joyous and kosher Pesach (Passover).

________

Translations in Torah Portions of the week are partially taken from the ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash and from Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch Chumash

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