This week’s Parsha deals with the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), a dwelling place for God. The raw materials that were needed are detailed at the outset; gold, precious stones, acacia wood, oil, ram skins, etc...
Rambam points out the Mishakan was built using materials that cut across the three gradations of life. Stones (Inanimate), wood (Vegetative life) and finally animal/ human life was needed for the construction. Every level of life was incorporated in to the edifice.
Creating a dwelling place for God in the physical world is the task of the Jewish people. We must use all the raw materials of the physical world at every level, science, math, art, philosophy, history, etc to illuminate God's presence. Physical is not the opposite of spiritual. The Zohar teaches the physical world is the method through which the concealed is revealed. God is the ultimate concealment, the physical world is the ultimate revelation, humans stand in between these two worlds.
“The fundamental service of God is the task of recognizing the kingdom of heaven in all phenomenon.” - Rabi Avigdor Miller
Rambam points out the Mishakan was built using materials that cut across the three gradations of life. Stones (Inanimate), wood (Vegetative life) and finally animal/ human life was needed for the construction. Every level of life was incorporated in to the edifice.
Creating a dwelling place for God in the physical world is the task of the Jewish people. We must use all the raw materials of the physical world at every level, science, math, art, philosophy, history, etc to illuminate God's presence. Physical is not the opposite of spiritual. The Zohar teaches the physical world is the method through which the concealed is revealed. God is the ultimate concealment, the physical world is the ultimate revelation, humans stand in between these two worlds.
“The fundamental service of God is the task of recognizing the kingdom of heaven in all phenomenon.” - Rabi Avigdor Miller
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