God
spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts;
There
are gifts that we give that are tangible.
We may send contributions to local, national and international causes, agencies and
institutions. We might save
clothing, books, toys, and other items to be donated to local agencies that
will then resell those items or give them to people in need. Other gifts are intangible. We may volunteer for local
organizations that offer support for children or senior citizens or for people
of all ages. Our assistance may
take the form of just being present and by showing support and kindness. Or, we
may be called upon to be an advocate, to enable others to clearly see that
person’s needs.
You
shall accept gifts for Me from all those whose hearts so moves them.
The
gifts were not to be brought reluctantly or begrudgingly. Each person bringing something for the
creation of the Tabernacle, the worship space for the Israelites, was called
upon to offer something willingly and sincerely. In the same way, our gifts from the creativity of our minds
and the work of our hands need to come from the heart.
And
these are the gifts that you shall accept from them: gold, silver, and copper;
The
closer the object was to the innermost part of Tabernacle, the Holy of Holies,
the more valuable the metal that was used. In fact, all of these metals were valuable, and the one
missing from the list is iron.
Iron was used more for weapons, making it incompatible with the
spiritual ends the sanctuary was intended to serve.
Blue, purple and crimson yarns, and fine linen, goat’s
hair, tanned ram skins, dolphin skins.
The
yarns and linen described were made using rare and expense dyes. Some may object to the widespread use
of animal skins in the ancient world.
What is important is that all of the furnishings of the Tabernacle,
regardless of their source, we made with extensive labor and great care.
Acacia wood; oil for lighting, spices for the anointing
oil and for the aromatic incense.
These gifts signify the
light that would burn in the Tabernacle to signify faith, and the spices that
would create the aromas that would be associated with this holy space. These items would establish the
sanctity of the Tabernacle, as every kind act that we do is sacred in its own
way.
Stones
for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.
Some
of the stones were to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The stones had different colors, but
all together they signified the entire people. The types of gifts that we give our community may be
different, but it takes all of our abilities, strengths, talents and
contributions to enrich our community.
And
let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.
The
passage does not say that God would dwell “in it,” in the Tabernacle, but
“among them” – with the people.
The word that means “dwell” in this verse does not have the meaning of
God dwelling permanently in the sanctuary, because God cannot be found only in
one place. It means that the
Tabernacle and its rituals would make God’s presence seem real to the people,
so that they would think about God in their hearts and minds after the rituals
were over.
Exactly as I show you – the pattern of the Tabernacle and
the pattern of all its furnishings – so shall you make it.
Today, the pattern of a Jewish sanctuary takes on many
different forms. No two
sanctuaries look exactly alike.
Yet, each one has an eternal light, an ark, windows, a menorah and other
symbols of our tradition and faith.
The gifts that we give may look different on the surface, but they are
essentially the same, because they all offer support, substance and enrichment to
our community.
Praised are You, Eternal God, Ruler of the Universe, who
makes us holy with commandments and commands us to occupy ourselves with the
needs of the community.
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