“And you shall make a Sanctuary for Me and I shall dwell in them,” (Shemot 25:8).
After listing the required donations and materials, Hashem commands us to make a Sanctuary so that He “shall dwell in them.” At first glance, the end of this verse seems grammatically incorrect. Seeing as the verse commences, “And you shall make a Sanctuary for Me,” surely it should conclude, “and I shall dwell in it—betocho,” in the singular form. Why does the verse end, “and I shall dwell in them—betocham,” in the plural?
Numerous commentators reflect that in truth, the role of the Mishkan was not for Hashem to dwell within its walls, planks and curtains, but for Hashem to dwell inside each and every Israelite. Rather than dwelling “in it” (the Mishkan), Hashem was to dwell “in them” (the people).
Along these lines, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, zt”l pointed out that there were two major construction projects in the Torah—the Tower of Bavel and the Mishkan—yet these two projects represent two entirely opposing ideologies. Regarding the Tower of Bavel, the midrash informs us:
“If a person fell and died, their hearts would not go out to him, but if a brick fell, they would sit, and weep, and say: ‘When will another one go up in its place?’” (Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer, 24).
At the Tower of Bavel, the people existed for the structure. Though people fell and died without being noticed, any damage to the structure would be a cause for great mourning. When it came to the Mishkan, however, rather than the people existing for the structure, the structure existed for the people. The aim of the Mishkan was, “I shall dwell in them”—for Hashem to reside in the midst of the people.
In the world today, there are two major forms of government. On the one hand, there are regimes where the people exist for the structure. The loss of innocent life goes by unnoticed, with the control of the ruling power as the top priority. Conversely, there are democracies and governments where the structure exists for the people. The nation is not required to serve its leader, but the leader must serve their nation.
The message of the Mishkan does not only apply to presidents and prime ministers, but to every level of leadership. A leader must never let their own importance, control or position take priority over the needs of their followers.
By ensuring correct priorities and only acting with pure motivation, may Hashem feel comfortable in our midst.
Rabbi Danny Mirvis is CEO of World Mizrachi, and Rabbi of Ohel Moshe Synagogue in Herzliya Pituach. He is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).
