So that I may dwell amongst them
Did you ever want Hashem to live next to you or in your community? In Parashat Terumah 25:8 it says, "וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ - And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell amongst them." All Hashem is asking to make a home for Him, but is it all it takes? This would be another example where Hashem is hinting at something, without saying it openly.
Let's look at this word: וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם - Veshachanti Beh Tocham - and I may dwell amongst them. The word Shachanti has a root of שָׁכֵן - shachen - neighbor. It is as if Hashem wants to be our neighbor, He wants to have His home amongst us.
Really, Hashem as a neighbor? That sounds cool! But in order to prepare a home for Hashem so He can be a neighbor, how do other existing neighbors feel living around us? Do neighbors suffer living there, or do they enjoy their life?
What is a shul? Shul is a place where neighbors within a radius of around 5 to 15 blocks of walking distance gather together, and try to co-exist in and out of that establishment, and offer prayers in unity to G-d for the next 1-4 hours.
And while there, what do you think Hashem hears from this crowd in their prayers?
There may be more, but let's look at these two possible scenarios:
Scenario 1: Someone’s prayer would be that he was wronged, ruined financially, with a stained reputation, and has an unbearable life in that neighborhood because of the lasting effect of the campaign against him, even after the dust had settled.
Scenario 2: Someone’s prayer would be that the person is blessed to live in this neighborhood and to know those few individuals or the community who helped him when he was going through the hard times. The prayer would also be that he enjoys the thought of being associated with this crowd. There are plenty of gratitude, warmth, and great vibes coming from the members of that community as a whole.
In my opinion, Hashem would think twice before joining the crowd in Scenario 1, since the congregants there are far from being the type Hashem would want to associate with.
Be it a shul, kollel, or some social setting - which scenario do you find yourself in or are part of?
As I mentioned before in this essay: Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue - the solution described would be the way to stop evil and eradicate it from our midst. Only then can we fulfill this pasuk—Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell amongst them. Otherwise, evil will continue to live, thrive and go unpunished, since we, the community, are not doing our part to fight it.
Shmuel Katanov
