This week’s Torah portion, Terumah, highlights two critical theological concepts in Judaism: The transcendence of the spiritual over the material, and the transformative power of worship. After the beginning of an excruciatingly detailed list of the resources and efforts required to construct the Mishnah–the portable Tabernacle the Israelites would use in worshipping God–God instructs Moses: “And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” (Not in it)The message is concise and clear: The actual finished structure of the Mishkan is but a means to expressing the people’s commitment to God and Torah–a symbol of their faith, rather than tangible proof of that faith. God could “meet” the people anywhere through any means. It is the process rather than the product that matters most. And similarly, God does not truly need the offerings and prayerful intentions of the people. Rather, it is through the korbanot/sacrifices that the people are transformed into an outward-facing, selfless, and open-hearted community.
