וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם.
And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
What do we know about the role of the tabernacle and the Temple?
What questions can you raise concerning this verse?
"ועשו לי מקדש" - ועשו לשמי בית קדושה
"Make for me a sanctuary" - Make for a holy place for the sake of My Name
Rewrite Rashi in your own words.
According to Rashi, how would you describe the role of the Mishkan?
(22) For I did not speak to your ancestors, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices; (23) rather, this is what I commanded them, saying: ‘Listen to My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. You shall walk in all the ways that I command you, so that it will be good for you.’
According to Jeremiah, what does the Holy One want from us?
How do these verses differ from our earlier sources?
אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה מעשה העגל קודם לציווי מלאכת המשכן ימים רבים היה שהרי בי"ז בתמוז נשתברו הלוחות וביום הכפורים נתרצה הקב"ה לישראל ולמחרת התחילו בנדבת המשכן והוקם באחד בניסן
There is no chronological order in the Torah. The episode of the Golden Calf preceded the command to build the Mishkan by many days. On the 17th of Tammuz the first tablets were broken. On Yom Kippur the Holy One and Israel were reconciled. the next day they began to receive voluntary offerings for the Tabernacle, which was established on the 1st day of Nissan.
Rashi brings his comment to answer a question he has about the text. What is that question?
What external information does Rashi bring to our verse?
Rashi changes the context of our verse. How does this further explain the role of the Mishkan?
ויקחו לי תרומה, הה"ד (שיר ה): אני ישנה ולבי ער. אמרה כנסת ישראל: אני ישנתי לי מן הקץ, אלא הקב"ה ער ... אני ישנה ממעשה העגל, ולבי ער והקב"ה מרתיק עלי. פתחי לי אחותי רעיתי עד מתי אהיה מתהלך בלא בית...? אלא, עשו לי מקדש, שלא אהיה בחוץ:
"Take for me an offering": this is the meaning of the verse (Song of Songs 5:2) "I was sleeping but my heart was awake." The people Israel said: "I have been asleep in regard to the end, however the Holy One is awake"... I am asleep from the story of the calf but my heart is awake and the Holy One captivates me.
"Open up for me, my sister, my friend" (Song of Songs 5:2). For how long must I travel without a home? So the Torah says: "make for Me a sanctuary" so that I need not be on the outside.
Identify key themes from the Midrash.
How does the Midrash utilize our verse?
Rambam, Guide to the Perplexed 3:32
...the commandment regarding sacrifices was not essential [to Torah], rather it comes as an intermediary step in order to push off the inclination to worship idols that had mislead the people. The commandment comes only as a process and foundation for proper service of God alone.
Compare and contrast the Rambam's understanding of the Mishkan with sources 3 and 4.
Which position makes makes more sense to you? Why?
Tzeda Laderech -- Rabbi Yechiya Eltshari
The Holy One does not reside in the sanctuary on account of the sanctuary, but does so only on account of the people Israel, for they constitute the Temple of God
How does this commentary view the sanctuary?
Which other source is Tzeda Laderech most similar to? Why?