This week’s parsha is “Terumah,” in which God gives Moses instructions on how to build a specific type of house - a mishkan, also called the Sanctuary. God tells Moses that the Jewish people will build the mishkan so that God can dwell among us. It will be built so that it can be easily dismantled, transported, and reassembled. This is the first we are told of Moses upon his arriving to the top of Mt. Sinai. We are told to contribute 13 different materials to this sanctuary and build two chambers. The inner chamber, the ark, was to contain two tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments; the outer chamber would contain a menorah.
We build the mishkan as a semi-portable sanctuary so that God can continue to dwell among us as we wander in the desert for the next 40 years. From, this, we take two big takeaways. The first being that we do not leave God behind when we move. As Jews were persecuted throughout the ages and were forced to leave their homes, God came with us. With each step and stop of the way, God was right alongside us, and helped us get through our arduous travels. We also take this to remember that God is with us through each step of our endeavors. Whether we face slavery, exile, or genocide, God dwells among us and gives us the strength to persevere as a people and as individuals.
So for those of us here tonight who may be struggling to live away from the homes we lived in for most of our lives, for those of us getting accustomed to new homes, and for those of us saying goodbye to our homes in Austin, we remember that through each step of travel and of hardship, we will always have a home here at Chabad and that we will always have a home in our hearts for God.
L’chaim