When Menachem Mendel Morgensztern of Kotzk was five years old he asked his father "Where is God?" to which his father answered: "God is everywhere!" The young Menachem Mendel then responded, "I think God is only where you let Him in". This young boy grew up to become the Kotzker Rebbe, a Hasidic leader, well known for his incisive and down-to-earth philosophies and sharp-witted sayings.
In this week’s Torah portion, G-d commands: Make for me a temple.
Have you ever considered the relevance of this command to a person in the modern world?
Hashem asks each one of us to create a temple for him. He is clear that he wants a space created where He can feel at home. But then, there is a promise. In the command to build the sanctuary, G‑d tells Moses "They shall make for Me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell in them". G‑d does not say "I will dwell in it," in the sanctuary, but "in them". The Sages explain that this means that G‑d dwells in the heart of each man and woman who builds this temple.
If we build a temple for G-d, if we make a space in ourselves where G-d will feel comfortable, He will dwell in that space.
If we want our soul to shine, we need to make space for G-d in our lives. We need to make ourselves a temple where G-d will feel comfortable so that He can dwell within us.
