“And let them build Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” (Parashat Terumah, Exodus 25:8)
This week’s Torah portion has incredible resonance as our congregation puts the final touches on our new spiritual home in preparation for our return home this Sunday. That’s a worker above finishing the ark in the chapel; below, JRC member Kate Spector helps fill the Religious School cabinets with school supplies.
Countless devoted JRC members have worked tirelessly to prepare our new synagogue building for this long-awaited day. Just as the ancient Israelites constructing the tabernacle in the wilderness, we have learned that it is not the building, but the process of building that creates sacred community. During the course of this process, we have truly discovered what it means to have God dwell in our midst.
I’m glad I found your website. There’s lots to peruse.
Marvelous thoughts about the building and your community. I’m a pastor of a church which was destroyed by fire some years ago and we also are about to enter into the new building in September. I remember a Rabbi friend of mine saying that the Rabbinical commentaries on Exodus 25 suggest that there was an argument about whether the meaning of “tabak” should be “dwell among them” or “dwell in it.” It sounds like we agree that it should be “in our midst”
Blessings to you and your people.