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Rabbi Ettman COmmentary
If You Build It, God Will Come: Parashat Terumah
February 2008
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Photo by
Chris Gaines |
I lugged the box out of my car and up to my apartment and pulled out the directions. Now, I was ready to begin to build. How hard could a simple assembly of an Ikea nightstand actually be?
Then I looked at the directions. The fact that I do not speak Swedish, German, or Japanese did not help the situation. And let me tell you, those little cartoonish pictures, there to help, don’t really do anything at all. But alas, I was ready to just get going; at least I knew what it was supposed to look like. Despite my directions quandary, I would take it step by step.
I thought of this recent moment in my life when I read this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Terumah. My building situation is similar to what God and our ancestors experienced in the desert. Our ancestors received instructions in Hebrew (which certainly would have been more helpful), with measurements called cubits and were told to build something called a Mishkan. The Israelites, however, did not know what a Mishkan was let alone how to build it. They needed explicit instructions. And those came from God, who becomes the architect and project manager. God directs how big and how long, even going so far as to describe how to make it pretty with beautiful linen and colors and dolphin skins.
The instructions are so explicit, in fact, that they are practically foolproof. But all the while, God explains to the people that the Mishkan has to be made EXACTLY as they are instructed to build it.
This begs a question, though. If God wanted the Miskan built to such exact specifications, why didn’t God just build it? With the ability reign down ten plagues, part a huge body of water and appear in smoke and fire, couldn’t God have just built it and given it to the people? Perhaps there is something deeper in what it means for humans to have built it.
There is a story from our tradition which sheds light on this very question. A king comes to a city to proclaim to the inhabitants that he is going to rule over them. The people immediately look at this king and say “What have you done for US? We don’t want you as our ruler!” And with that, they dismiss him.
Another king comes to the city and immediately helps the people build a fortified wall, create a system of irrigation and plumbing, and helps rebuild the work force by creating jobs and new ideas. Seeing the way this king helps the community, they ask this king to be their leader.
The same is true for God. God cannot simply dictate and rule over people and expect them to follow. The people have to be invested in God’s rule over them. This is one of the most profound lessons we find in the Torah. The Israelites need to feel as if they too are partners in the relationship. This is why the people must be involved in the creation of the Mishkan, the great holy space of the Israelites. And this is also where we find the meaning for ourselves.
God commands the people to build AND provides a reason. There is no top down command here. Listen to the reason that God gives:
Vasuli Mikdash – build me a holy space,
Vshchanti b’tocham – so that I may dwell with them.
God’s command for us to build a holy space is precisely for US. We are the ones for whom the place will be holy and special. We are the ones for whom the divine relationship is realized. And we are the ones with whom God partners and teaches and loves; not hovering over us like a helicopter, but rather working with us and guiding us.
And so it is for us. This very verse, which we see at the entrance to our main sanctuary and many other places, reminds us that when we create, we have the divine spirit within us. And that our creations, whatever they may be, are more than just material entities or accomplishments, they have the potential to be infused with holiness.
The message that we learn this week reminds us how we can elevate the holiness in our lives and be divinely inspired to act in the world. Whether or you believe fully in God, or are questioning, or are wondering what it all means, our act of creating reminds us how we are continual partners in the world. On this Shabbat and during this entire week, let us all strive to be partners with God and bring holiness into our lives. Let us allow God to dwell within us as we continue to create wonders of possibility in the world.
May this be God’s will and may this be our will.
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