The Real Thing!

Our world is a world of virtual reality. We strive for Moshiach who will restore reality. TERUMAH TERUMAH

Where is the Temple?

“Make for me a sanctuary and I will dwell in them,” is the highlight of this week’s Torah portion. With these words G-d gave the Jewish people the commandment and the privilege to create a dwelling place for the Amighty within this physical world. In the desert the Jews built the Mishkan, a portable sanctuary that served as G-d’s House for the 40 years they sojourned in the desert and for another 14 years that they were engaged in the conquest and division of the Land of Israel. .

Once their situation in Israel stabilized, they built a more permanent structure in the city of Shiloh. This building, made of stone walls, but covered with the fabric and leather coverings of the Mishkan, lasted for 369 TERUMAH years. When this structure was destroyed by the Philistines, they rebuilt the Temple in the city of Nob and then in Gibon. These structures lasted for a total of fifty-seven years. Then, under the direction of King Solomon the Jewish people built the first permanent structure in Jerusalem. This Temple stood for 410 years.

But, alas, this temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. Seventy years later a second Temple was built that lasted for 420 years. The total number of years that all the different Temples stood adds up to 1312. For the seventy years in between Temples and for close to 2,000 years since the destruction of the second Temple by the Romans, the Jewish people have not been able to fulfill this most fundamental mitzvah of making a sanctuary for G-d in the literal sense of the mitzvah.

Temple Substitutes

Our sages have taught, however, that there are many ways by which we can create a dwelling place for G-d as a substitute for the Temple. Our prayers, our Torah study, our TERUMAH giving of charity, our building of synagogues are all substitutes for the Temple and the services conducted within the Temple. Moreover, our sages declare that each and every one of us has the capacity and obligation to make our own homes and hearts sanctuaries for G-d.

Indeed, even in the days of Solomon, the intent of the Temple was to instill the awe of and appreciation for G-d that was acquired there into one’s heart, permeating one’s consciousness and soul. One who visited the Temple in Jerusalem did not leave feeling that G-d was “there,” in Jerusalem; he or she left with a new understanding and feeling of closeness to G-d that stayed with him or her forever.

Thus it is clear that a key component of the Temple’s function – to make G-d more relevant in our day to day lives – is something we can (and must) attempt to do today as well.

Yet, notwithstanding all of the various substitutes we have for the mitzvah of building a sanctuary, Jews have never ceased TERUMAH praying and yearning for the rebuilding of the Temple. in Jerusalem.

What’s Wrong with the Substitutes?

Thousands of times each year we ask and implore G-d for the physical reconstruction of the Temple. Several times each day we ask G-d, “May the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days.” We are not content with a spiritual rendition of the Temple; we want to see it with our eyes of flesh.

Why?

Why can’t we be satisfied with a spiritual sanctuary that every one of us must build in our own heart? Why do we ask so earnestly for the physical structure if we have the presence of G-d in our hearts?

Face to Face

A simple solution to this matter can be found by way of an analogy. Picture a father and son who are separated from each other. They love each other very much and the separation TERUMAH is very painful. Whenever the father would think of the times when he would play with his son, he would relive that experience and his love for his child would swell up in his heart. Similarly, when the son would reflect on the great times he had spent with his father, feelings of love and yearning would well inside of him.

Yet, warm feelings notwithstanding, it is clear that, when given the opportunity to reunite neither parent nor child would say, “Why do I need to see my father/son? I already have great memories and warm feelings for him and these prove the strength of our relationship!” Nothing can ever replace the face to face reunion of two people who love each other.

The Challenge of Virtual Reality

In our modern world of communication, with telephone television and the internet that have made it possible to be connected with anyone we want at virtually every moment, we as physical entities need to have face to face relationships where we can see one TERUMAH another with our eyes of flesh.

While we can connect through Skype and other media, that is only virtual reality; and virtual reality is not reality!

One of the challenges of modern times is to sort out the difference between virtual reality and the real reality. So many of our youth have been exposed to the virtual brand and If this is true in the physical realm, it is certainly true in the spiritual real.

We have become accustomed to relying on the substitutes for the Holy Temple, and they are great, but they’re not the ultimate manifestation of G-dly reality and the total relationship we can have with G-d. For that we need the Bais Hamikdash itself!

Similarly, with all the benefits that accrue from the spiritual forms of connection with G-d and substitutes for His Temple, Jews have never been satisfied with them. We have always emphasized the centrality and importance of having the actual Temple in Jerusalem – the place where we will be able to behold G-d’s presence in the most palpable way.

TERUMAH

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Terumah by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.