This Shabbat, we read from Parasha T’rumah of the various instructions for which to build a tabernacle and holy space in which Hashem instructs Moses “Let them, [the people] make Me a sanctuary in I may dwell among them.” Taken by itself, the building of such a tabernacle being a requirement and condition of a place for Hashem’s divinely presence to dwell.
But as we dive down into this week’s haftorah for Parasha T’rumah, we are reminded, “if you follow my law and observe my rules and faithfully keep my commandments, I will fulfill for you the promise that I have to your father David – I will abide among the children of Israel, and I will never forsake my people.”
This past year we’ve built a new type of tabernacle, one that speaks for our time. A tabernacle, not of ornate items or objects, or a physical brick and mortar building, but rather a virtual tabernacle in the cloud, built upon our own strength and resolve to be together. We’ve creatively built a virtual tabernacle, constructed by spaces and green-screens in our homes, spaces in our hearts, and in our minds in which to work, socialize, and worship. Virtual spaces in which to gather, to find joy, to keep connected to our communities, our loved ones, our families and our friends. Spaces in which to observe and maintain some sense of Hashem’s divine presence in our lives, despite not having a physical sanctuary to gather, enabling us to still observe holidays and Shabbatot together, but apart.
But as we dive down into this week’s haftorah for Parasha T’rumah, we are reminded, “if you follow my law and observe my rules and faithfully keep my commandments, I will fulfill for you the promise that I have to your father David – I will abide among the children of Israel, and I will never forsake my people.”
This past year we’ve built a new type of tabernacle, one that speaks for our time. A tabernacle, not of ornate items or objects, or a physical brick and mortar building, but rather a virtual tabernacle in the cloud, built upon our own strength and resolve to be together. We’ve creatively built a virtual tabernacle, constructed by spaces and green-screens in our homes, spaces in our hearts, and in our minds in which to work, socialize, and worship. Virtual spaces in which to gather, to find joy, to keep connected to our communities, our loved ones, our families and our friends. Spaces in which to observe and maintain some sense of Hashem’s divine presence in our lives, despite not having a physical sanctuary to gather, enabling us to still observe holidays and Shabbatot together, but apart.
As we usher in this week's special Shabbat, known as “Shabbat Zachor” (Shabbat to Remember), we are commanded to remember Amalek’s attack upon our people and we tie it to the holiday of Purim next week where we “stomp” upon hearing the name of Haman as we recall our battle against him and his forces.
This Shabbat we also conclude our first full week of the month of Adar, a time when we typically say משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה (Mishenikhnas adar marbin b’simcha) – “From the moment Adar arrives, we are to increase our joy”
So, one might ask oneself, how is it that we can be joyful during a time when we are recounting such horrible attacks upon our people? Where and how can we find joy with everything going on around us with life seeming so backwards and upside down right now?
The answer is quite simple. Yes, it is a time where we are reminded of the many struggles of our people, but it is also a time where we can be joyful in the celebration of the strength and resolve as history has shown us time and again of our people to endure.
So as we remember this Shabbat and we prepare for Purim, while we may not be attending a physical synagogue this year for the traditional reading of the Megillah, let us be reminded that Hashem’s presence doesn’t just dwell in a tabernacle, a synagogue, or a building but rather, let us emulate Hashem’s divine presence, and the festiveness of the holidays in nurturing our enduring strength and resolve, in our actions. Let us be joyful, observing this holiday season in celebration by continuing to social distance, wearing our masks, being COVID compliant, observing and celebrating virtually together, physically apart until we “stomp” the name COVID-19 into history.
No matter how you and yours will be observing this Shabbat and Purim the coming week, I wish you good health, enduring strength, great joy, peace, and much resolve, that we may be able to be together with our friends, families and loved ones in celebration, again next year!
Shabbat Shalom
This Shabbat we also conclude our first full week of the month of Adar, a time when we typically say משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה (Mishenikhnas adar marbin b’simcha) – “From the moment Adar arrives, we are to increase our joy”
So, one might ask oneself, how is it that we can be joyful during a time when we are recounting such horrible attacks upon our people? Where and how can we find joy with everything going on around us with life seeming so backwards and upside down right now?
The answer is quite simple. Yes, it is a time where we are reminded of the many struggles of our people, but it is also a time where we can be joyful in the celebration of the strength and resolve as history has shown us time and again of our people to endure.
So as we remember this Shabbat and we prepare for Purim, while we may not be attending a physical synagogue this year for the traditional reading of the Megillah, let us be reminded that Hashem’s presence doesn’t just dwell in a tabernacle, a synagogue, or a building but rather, let us emulate Hashem’s divine presence, and the festiveness of the holidays in nurturing our enduring strength and resolve, in our actions. Let us be joyful, observing this holiday season in celebration by continuing to social distance, wearing our masks, being COVID compliant, observing and celebrating virtually together, physically apart until we “stomp” the name COVID-19 into history.
No matter how you and yours will be observing this Shabbat and Purim the coming week, I wish you good health, enduring strength, great joy, peace, and much resolve, that we may be able to be together with our friends, families and loved ones in celebration, again next year!
Shabbat Shalom