Lead Tidbit
Which will it be for you?
Let's start with a well-known analysis of the presentation of the Mishkan in T'ruma, T'zaveh, and the first part of Ki Tisa, and again in Vayak-hel and P'kudei. And then we'll carry it one step further.

For two and a third sedras, the Torah tells the people to voluntarily contribute materials for the construction of the Mishkan, commands us to make a Mikdash to G-d, and then details the making of the Aron, Shulchan, Menora, coverings of the Mishkan, wall panels and sockets, Mizbei'ach for Korbanot, the courtyard, the mitzva of the Menora, garments of the Kohein Gadol and the regular kohanim, the procedures of the inauguration of the Mishkan, the Golden Incense Altar, the mandatory collection of the half silver shekel for funding the day-to-day functioning of the Mishkan, the washing basin and its base, the compounding of the spices for the incense and the anointing oil, and the selection of the chief artisans for the actual carrying out of the many tasks involved in fulfilling the command V'ASU LI MIK- DASH. Finally, a third of the way into Ki Tisa, we have the reminder of the sanctity and supremacy of Shabbat in the whole picture.

At the beginning of Vayak-hel, we have a reminder of the sanctity of Shabbat and a restatement - with full details - of all of the above-mentioned phases of Mishkan construction and everything that goes along with it.

Between the two large sections on Mishkan, we have the episode of the Golden Calf and its aftermath, including Moshe's ascent of Har Sinai again, to prayer for forgiveness, receive it, and the new Luchot, and the 13 Divine Attributes.

We see the concept of Mikdash first as a natural continuation of Revelation at Sinai; a way of keeping the Divine Presence in our midst as we live our lives as Torah Jews.

We also see the concept of Mikdash as some kind of Tikun and Antidote for the Sin of the Golden Calf and this has tainted the concept of Mikdash and given some people that Mikdash exists only because of the weakness of human nature. "See how much gold in the Mikdash? It's because of the Calf. See this korban or that? An atonement for the Eigel." Etc.

But remember: the command to make a Mikdash was part of Torah at Sinai. No Calf yet. Mikdash is a pure concept of Sanctity of Place. A mitzva that allows us to focus our religious and spiritual energies positively.

So this is what it boils down to. Which will it be for you? How do you and how will you view the Mikdash and everything that goes with it? The Torah presented it both ways; which way speaks to your heart?