Shul is great!
There is one verse that stands above the rest in this week's portion. Exodus 25:8 states, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." Every rabbi, at some point in his/her career, has spoken at length about this verse because it has at its core such an important message. The idea is that the people are not building a structure so that God can live in it, but rather they are building a tabernacle so that God can dwell among them. God does not live in the sanctuary, but with its existence, God is able to dwell in the people's midst.
Today, we often think that the synagogue is where God lives and that the sole place where we can interact with God is the shul. But in fact, it is by having the synagogue as our center that allows us to bring God into our own lives wherever we are. It teaches us the tools for experiencing the divine in our lives and gives us the perspective that enables us to find God in the more sublime and ordinary of moments. By being a part of constructing and supporting this Jewish center, we are able to really feel God all around us.
Just So
Would you let someone else pick out all of your clothes or design your house? Probably not. They wouldn't know your style, your taste, and what function you would need out of your rooms. That is why most of us buy our own clothing and like designing our own spaces.
God is no different. God gives incredibly explicit instructions about what he wants his wilderness sanctuary to look like. Every small detail is accounted for. While some might say that it is unnecessary to be so specific and deliberate. But if we want things done a certain way, we need to be clear about exactly what we want. Just as we often like things done to our satisfaction, so too does God and we do our best to fulfill God's wishes.
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