Parshas Terumah begins a series of parshios focused on the building of the Sanctuary in the wilderness to "house" the Divine presence.

But how is this to be understood? How can finite people using finite materials construct a dwelling place for the Infinite? How can an area be defined for His presence when the prophet proclaims, "The entire world is filled with His glory"?

The parshah’s initial verse, "They shall make for Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell among them," addresses this concern, informing us that this Sanctuary was not to simply be a tangible project, but develop into a metaphysical fixture of Jewish existence.

G-d did not promise to live "in it" but "among them"—among the Jewish people, in each and every Jew for all time, according to the Shaloh Hakadosh, Z"tl.

Thus, the Sanctuary is to be viewed not simply as a physical structure, but as a spiritual framework granted to each of us, an endowment from G-d to the Jewish people to fuse the spiritual and physical worlds. We are assured that by adopting the formula spelled out in the Torah we can create this Sanctuary within us.

It is in our hands—based on our ability and on our commitment—to establish it. It is the very purpose of creation, in the words of the Midrash, "to make this world a dwelling place for A-mighty G-d."

The parshah lists fifteen items used in building and maintaining the Sanctuary. Rashi, however, writes that "the thirteen items under discussion were needed for the construction of the Sanctuary and the priestly garments."

The Biblical commentaries are left to wonder why Rashi says thirteen when the Torah lists fifteen. The Tzemach Tzedek, Z"tl, points out that the Midrash in Shir Hashirim also lists thirteen items, omitting oil and spice.

Oil and spice were used on an ongoing basis as part of the Tabernacle service. That is why Rashi takes care to point out that the thirteen materials were for the structure and the priestly garments. The other two—oil and spice—were used continuously, and thus communicate a distinct message.

Oil symbolizes Torah, and spices were used as incense for the sacrificial offerings. Torah and sacrificial offerings—which in our times becomes Torah and tefillah, prayer. Once the structure of the Sanctuary is set, there is the need for precise services formulated by strict procedures. Only when Torah and tefillah are practiced do the other thirteen items compose a Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary that is within us is founded on the same premise. It cannot be removed from us as long as we maintain our people’s timeless program of Torah and tefillah in their precise formulation—not adulterated or tampered with.

Only when we follow this blueprint can we bring the Divine presence into our physical environment. We can do it. We are given the power and the promise to succeed.

Rabbi Kasinetz is rabbi of the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, New Jersey.