Vayakhel-Pekudei: Bringing God's Presence Close

Start by reading Exodus 39:43 from this week's Torah portion.

R. Jacob the son of Issi asked: Why does it say; I love the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells? Because the Tabernacle is equal to the creation of the world itself.... Concerning the creation of the world it is written: And God blessed (Num. 2:3), and of the Tabernacle it is said: And Moses blessed them (Exod. 39:43); with regard to the creation it is said: And God finished (Gen. 2:2), and of the Tabernacle it is written: On that day Moses made an end (Num. 7:1); of creation it says: And hallowed it (Gen. 2:2), and of the Tabernacle: And had anointed it and sanctified it (Num. 7:1).
Why is the Tabernacle equal to heaven and earth? Because even as heaven and earth bear witness concerning Israel, as it is written: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day (Deut. 30:19), so the Tabernacle bears witness on behalf of Israel, as is said: These are the accounts of the Tabernacle, even the Tabernacle of the testimony (Exod. 38:21). Hence it is said: Lord, I love the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth (Ps. 26:8).
- Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 2:3, Talmudic Babylon/Italy/Israel, c. 500 - c. 800 CE

Questions for discussion:
1. What do you think was the purpose of the Mishkan? Why does the Torah spend so much time giving us such specific building instructions for this temporary tabernacle in the desert?
2. Why do you think Moses blessed the people after they built the Mishkan in this Parashah?

These are the accounts of the Tabernacle. It is written elsewhere: Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Gen. 46:8). Observe how very precious the Tabernacle was to the Holy One, that God left the upper sphere to dwell in the Tabernacle. R. Simeon held that God dwelt in the lower sphere (at first), as is said: And they heard the voice of God walking in the garden (ibid. 3:8), but that after Adam sinned God ascended from earth to heaven. When Cain arose and killed his brother, God ascended from the first firmament to the second; when the generation of Enoch angered God, God ascended from the second to the third; when the generation of the flood perverted God's teaching, God ascended from the third to the fourth; when the generation of the separation (i.e., the Tower of Babel) became arrogant, God went from the fourth to the fifth sphere; when the Sodomites behaved immorally, God went from the fifth to the sixth; and when Amraphel and his companions appeared, God ascended from the sixth to the seventh.
However, after Abraham came and performed good deeds, the Shekhinah descended from the seventh to the sixth firmament; after Isaac God went from the sixth to the fifth; after Jacob from the fifth to the fourth; after Levi, his son, from the fourth to the third; after Kohath the son of Levi, from the third to the second; after Amram from the second to the first; and on the day that Moses erected the Tabernacle: The glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle (Exod. 40:34). Scripture states: For the upright shall dwell in the land (Prov. 2:21). This should be read: “They caused the Shekhinah to dwell in the land.”
- Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 6:2, Talmudic Babylon/Italy/Israel, c. 500 - c. 800 CE

Questions for discussion:
1. Where do you believe God's presence dwells today? Do we influence God in any way?
2. Is our sanctuary, a modern-day Mishkan, a place where you find spiritual connection? What brings you to Temple?
3. Is there a specific action or activity that helps you feel more connected to God?