Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah portion, Pikudei, we reach the completion of the Tabernacle. After months of meticulous work, the structure is finally finished. But the process does not end there. First, the necessary vessels and components are set in place. Then, the priests are anointed, officially consecrated for their sacred service. And only after all this—the physical preparation and the spiritual dedication—does the Divine presence descend and fill the Tabernacle.

This sequence holds a profound message for us. Before the Divine presence rests within a space, that space must first be prepared. The physical structure must be built, the vessels placed, and the people designated for service must be ready. Only then does the spiritual presence manifest. The same holds true in our own lives. We often seek spiritual connection, longing to feel the Divine presence. But first, we must create the vessel—a home filled with kindness, a heart attuned to holiness, a life dedicated to higher purpose. When we do our part, the Divine naturally enters.

The Torah tells us that the Jewish people are a nation of priests. In other words, every one of us is anointed for a sacred mission. To be chosen does not mean privilege alone; it means responsibility. Just as the priests in the Tabernacle were tasked with facilitating the Divine presence in the world, so too each of us is called to create space for the Divine in our daily lives. This is our purpose—not just to build externally, but to refine ourselves internally, to cultivate holiness in our thoughts, words, and actions. 

When we acknowledge our mission and take responsibility for it, we transform our homes, our communities, and our world into places where the Divine presence can dwell. And then, like in the Tabernacle, the Divine presence moves in.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zushe Cunin