On occasion, a profound message is communicated in a seemingly trivial piece of information. Our Torah reading this week offers such a message.
Consider the difference between the first two houses of worship for our people.
When the Israelites were travelling through the desert on their way to the Promised Land of Israel, they were instructed to build a Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, a temporary place to worship that accompanied them on the journey. It is a tent-like structure, significant for it is the dwelling place of God.
However, in our Torah portion this week, R’eihe’eh, Moses tells the Israelites that when they arrive in Israel, they are to create a center and permanent temple. Known as the Holy Temple, it is to be built on “the place that God will choose” (Deuteronomy 12:5). It comes to fruition when, in 957 BCE, King Solomon erected The Holy Temple (also known as The First Temple) in Jerusalem, taking the place of the Tabernacle. This Temple is the high point for Israelite worship.
In the Bible, the Book of Kings gives the details of the construction. The land on which it is built is the most sacred on Earth – designated as such from the moment of creation. In the words of the Torah, “And it will be, that the place Adonai your God, will choose in which to establish His Name there…” (Deuteronomy 12:11).
In other words, the ground on which the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was erected, was holy. The holiness of the mobile Tabernacle, however, came from the building.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson shares an insight. The holiness of the mobile Tabernacle is from the materials from which it is constructed (the coverings, boards, curtains, etc.). The ground itself was not inherently holy. Perhaps to underscore this, the Torah does not record at any point during the 40 years of wandering in the desert, a single place where it was built. The land was no longer holy once the Tabernacle was moved.
In summary, the holiness of the Temple in Jerusalem was associated with a specific piece of land. In this case, location, location, location. The holiness of the mobile Tabernacle, however, came from the building, so not always location, location, location.
In addition, Maimonides points out that the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was built on multiple levels, on the side of a mountain. In contrast, the portable Tabernacle, which was built on flat land. One might dismiss this as inconsequential. And yet, it is significant. Since the Temple in Jerusalem was modeled after the Tabernacle, why wouldn’t it also be built on flat land? Why was it built on the side of a mountain?
Each level, we are taught, brought an elevated level of holiness. That is why it was built on the side of the mountain, allowing, indeed ensuring, ascending stages of holiness.
God can designate land as holy as the Torah indicated. And people can create holy space. We can bring holiness to our homes, our places of work, wherever we are. Stephen Wise Temple, and in particular our prayer and study spaces (Sanctuary, Chapel and Beit Midrash), became holy when they were built, not because of the specific land we are fortunate to enjoy (though, I confess, I feel our land has come to have special significance). We elevate this space when we learn Torah here, when we worship here, and when we treat others with dignity.
What poignant examples of how people can emulate God.
And we learn all of this from what we might have thought was a simply trivial piece of information.
Rabbi David Woznica