Lead Tidbit
Both Means and Goal
Last week's Lead Tidbit developed over Shabbat into a major theme, and I would like to keep it going one more time (at least). In the beginning of T'ruma, we had the command to Make a Sanctuary for G-d, and (so that) He will dwell among us. Not "in it", but among us. Last week's haftara spelled that out very clearly, and this week's sedra does also. G-d says: And I will dwell among Bnei Yisrael and I will be G-d (Elokim) for them. And they will know that I am HaShem their G-d Who took them out of the Land of Egypt IN ORDER to dwell among them...

IF the whole point of building a Mikdash, with its myriad of details, is to bring the Divine Presence among us, then it would seem to follow that if we can accomplish that, we might not need a Mikdash. Remember the IF that started this paragraph. If the premise of an argument is not correct, then the conclusions drawn from it will be fallacious. But let's carry this erroneous argument further.

For the last almost two thousand years, we have been without a Beit Mikdash. We have coped with this situation - even thrived - with our Mikdash Me'at - our shuls and Jewish homes. We have been davening and letting our lips replace the animals of korbanot. We have done a lot of K'ILU (as if) in the hope that we have succeeded in bringing the Divine Presence among us. Our Batei Medrash and Yeshivot, our various Chessed activities, our Mitzva- observance have all done their share to attract the Sh'china (so to speak). And even if we have fallen short, we seem to be doing better than other generations who were castigated by G-d via prophets for meaningless Temple service without proper personal and communal behavior.

So maybe we don't really need an actual Mikdash. G-d doesn't need a physical dwelling. We want Him among us. WRONG! All of the above - Torah and Mitzvot, Chessed, etc. PLUS the fulfillment of V'ASU LI MIKDASH, speedily in our time. Our means are goals in and of themselves.