Building the Mishkan in ourselves

(A previous version of this text was published on this blog in Portuguese under the title "Construindo o Mishcán em nós mesmos")

This week's parashah contains the final instructions for constructing the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the portable Temple that the Israelites carried during their forty-year journey through the desert. Upon completing this process, the text states: “When Moshe had finished the work, the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of ADONAI filled the Mishkan.” (Ex. 40:33–34)

At first glance, the extensive list of materials and intricate details provided in this parashah could serve as a blueprint for reconstructing the Mishkan (and indeed some have attempted precisely that!). Yet, how can we integrate these detailed instructions into our lives amid the bustling environment in Johannesburg in the 21st century?

One possible path can be found in Hasidic commentaries, which frequently draw parallels between the text of the Torah and the dilemmas faced by our ancestors with our own inner struggles. Thus, the task of building the Mishkan, a place for the Divine presence to dwell, can be compared to the inner work of constructing ourselves into the individuals we aspire to become, reflecting, as closely as possible, the Divine image in which we were formed. Whether we view this as aligning with a Divine purpose or simply cultivating our highest ethical selves, it involves practical steps: identifying what's distancing us from our goals, intentionally removing those obstacles, and consistently developing habits such as daily reflection, deliberate kindness, or community engagement. This demanding, detailed work, akin to the Mishkan's construction, leads to what Hasidism calls d'vekut – the profound experience of connecting spiritually with God and living purposefully. This is how we bring the Divine Presence, not just into our personal experiences, but into the world as a whole.

As Rabbi Ebn Leader, one of my beloved teachers, emphasises, just as the Mishkan was portable and could be established anywhere, we too can initiate our personal process of transformation and pursuit of d'vekut at any time and place [1]. It begins by listening to our inner voice and deciding to engage in the challenging work of transforming ourselves into our own Mishkan.

This Shabbat, may the instructions of Parashat P’kudei inspire us to transform ourselves, enabling God to occupy the Divine’s rightful place in our lives and in the world around us.

Shabbat Shalom!

[1] Ebn, R. et al. (2013) Speaking Torah Vol 1. 1st edn. Jewish Lights.