Comment on Comment on Creation Itself

A comment on my previous post elaborated on a sense of place. I hope everyone reads it. The writer made some very good points about having a sense of place and, in that place, a sense of order. This isn't order in the guise of neatness (thought it could be) but a structure to your life. Creation itself is how God brought -- and continues to bring -- order out of chaos. Since the sages compare the building of the Mishkan to the very act of Creation, it stands to reason that the Mishkan was a way for us to bring spiritual order out of the chaos of slavery.

The Mishkan was a part of our history and is our present as well. The word Mishkan literally means dwelling-place. Here, it's a dwelling place for Hashem. But it can't really be that! God is everywhere! Rather, it's a way for us to dwell with Him. We surround ourselves with objects that remind us of Him. The symbols aren't holy, but are a way to help us achieve holiness.

Food for thought, which the commenter probably knew when describing the importance of a sense of place: one of God's names is Ha'Makon, the Place -- the Place of the Entire Universe.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Shaina