“Speak to Bnei Yisrael and let them take for Me a portion.”

 (Shemos 25:2)

“The Torah uses many psukim to describe Hashem: ‘Hashem’s is the earth and its fullness’ ‘The sea is His and He made it’ ‘Behold! The sky is Hashem’s …’ Does such a Creator have any need for flesh and blood?! However His Shechinah wishes to dwell with the Jewish people like a father who yearns for his children. Therefore the pasuk says ‘Let them take for Me.’ (Yalkut).

“The Jews had just been released from exile after many years as destitute slaves in Egypt … Chazal teach that every Jew went out of Egypt leading 80 Libyan donkeys loaded with silver gold and jewels. The One Who graciously granted them this great wealth is now asking them to put aside a small portion of it for building the Mishkan which will serve as a place of honor and atonement for every Jew. And let’s not forget that we’re discussing the dor de’ah — the generation that received the Torah. Even the lowliest maidservant among them had powers of prophecy greater than those of Yechezkel Ben Buzi.” (Rav Yehudah Leib Chasman Or Yahel quoting Lekach Tov). 

The hall is packed but women are still clamoring at the door. The organizers wonder what to do. Plastic chairs in the aisles? How can they disappoint so many women who want to see the play?

One week later same hall same neighborhood — but no seating problems this time. Only a handful of women are waiting for the rav’s lecture on developing a relationship with Hashem. True the rav is a renowned enthralling speaker. But people would rather crowd into a hall to see a great film than listen to a rav.

I ask myself why.

 “In light of the above we may understand the meaning of Hashem’s efforts to appease the Jews. If we were the tzedakah collectors we’d have surely become exasperated by the need to repeatedly ask for donations for the Mishkan. And we find Hashem placating the Jews humbly begging them to give a donation from their own pocket.

This situation underscores the enormity of the barrier between man’s material understanding and the innate longing of his neshamah for spirituality. Our hearts are so closed and confined that our insight becomes diminished and we are incapable of grasping our own spiritual yearnings.” 

Why? Why does the movie attract me more than a deep riveting Torah discourse that could elevate my avodas Hashem draw me closer to G-d give me a glimpse of eternity and bring me to the most divine spiritual satisfaction?!

And why if prayer is my opportunity to ask for anything to feel Hashem’s presence and connect to Him on the deepest level do I sometimes feel like reading a book or newspaper instead of davening?

It’s because of the barrier that blurs my vision and distorts that powerful stable entity called “truth.” Sometimes because I’m so far away I don’t see the source of the great light illuminating my life. So I exchange the gnawing hunger that haunts my soul for simple physical food. I trade my intense spiritual yearning for a cup of coffee with friends “because I feel something missing inside.”

Sometimes I feel stirrings of dreams and longings I don’t really understand. Sometimes I feel an intense longing for something else something more some invisible thing waiting for me beyond everyday life’s narrow horizon.

And then when I come closer to Hashem when I manage to rise above the concerns of mundane daily life — only then do I feel the joy and contentment filling my soul to the brim. That’s what I was really looking for.

“Therefore to truly break the barrier that covers man’s heart our compassionate Father begs us to let Him shower us with eternal good. This is the reason for the words of appeasement in the commandment of the Mishkan.” 

I also want to build a Mishkan in my heart. I also understand that everything I have is from Hashem’s treasure houses and not from my own nonexistent reserves. Nevertheless I daven for all those days when forgetfulness overcomes me: Please my G-d coax me appease me and persuade me because I am so very small.