PARASHAT TERUMAH

A PERSONAL SANCTUARY

"And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell within them." (Shemot 25:8) Rebbi Yaacov Yosef from Polnaya notes that since the six hundred and thirteen
mitzvot are eternal, one must be able to keep them at any time period. The verse "let them make me a sanctuary", therefore, gives rise to the following question: How is it possible to fulfill the mitzva of building the Temple at this time? The Rebbi answers, that since every person is a small world, each of us can build a sanctuary within our heart, and let the Divine presence dwell within us. In this way we fulfill the continuation of the verse: "that I may dwell within them."

THE JEWISH HOME - A MINIATURE SANCTUARY

If our heart can be the dwelling place for the Divine Presence, certainly the Jewish home can be compared to the Temple, as it is known that a Jewish home is called a "Mikdash M'at"-a miniature sanctuary. Since the woman is chief of her home, she can be compared to the Cohen Gadol and her housework to his Divine Service. Just like the Cohen Gadol kindles the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash, the woman lights the Shabbath candles in her home. The bread she bakes is like the show-bread in the Temple. The food she cooks is like a Korban, (sacrifice) and the table she sets is a Mizbeach (altar). Her goal is to imbue her home with spirituality and fear of G-d. In the same manner that the Cohen Gadol causes the Shechina (Divine indwelling Presence) to dwell in the world; so does the woman invite the Shechina to enter her home. Just like the Cohen Gadol is not inferior to the king, so is the wife not inferior to her husband. They complete one another, each performing a vital function

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