Study

We should strive to feel the presence of God in our lives, just as the presence of God filled the Tabernacle.

The mirrors used to create the basin in the Tabernacle teach us that sanctified sexuality means seeing ourselves in relation to others.

Balancing wisdom with passion is the key to achieving justice in the world.

Commentary on Parshat Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19)

By giving God our full presence we allow the possibility for intimate connection and for God to dwell within us.

The clothing of our religious leaders communicates our perceptions of our relationships to God and each other.

Bezalel's wise-heartedness was his ability to merge the practical with the contemplative.

The incident of the Golden Calf challenges us to consider how we respond to tzedakah that comes from questionable sources.

The image of Israelites, whose hearts moved them, donating gifts to the Tabernacle, inspires us to consider the meaning of having a heart that is moved.

The collection of the half-shekel teaches us the importance of working together as a community.

The incident of the Golden Calf teaches each of us the importance of taking responsibility for our actions and inspires us to make our communities homes of sacredness.

The prohibition against making an idol warns us not to fix our image of God, but rather to allow our conception of God to evolve.