Living with the Parsha
A Sanctuary at Home

"Daddy, do you have that book with pictures of how the Sanctuary looked?" Benjy inquired of his father one evening.

"I think I do - why, do you have to make a project about it?" his father asked as he got up and went over to the bookcase. There was a large book, a present from their cousin in Jerusalem, with colored pictures of a model of the Sanctuary, called the Mishkan. The Jewish people, camped at Mount Sinai together with Moses, had built it. The Sanctuary gave the pattern for building the Temple, many years later.

"Here you are, Benjy, now you can make your project."

"It's not exactly a project. You see, my teacher told us today all about the Sanctuary, where Aaron would light the Menorah and bring offerings - and then, he told us that we can all have our own Sanctuary in our homes. So, I want to try and make my room into the Sanctuary, and that's why I need the book, to show me what it looked like."

When Benjy was serious, he was very serious. His father tried to hide a smile. "Um, Benjy, are you sure that's what your teacher really meant - that you should make an exact replica of the Sanctuary in your bedroom?"

"Well, I think that's what he meant, but I missed the beginning of it because I scraped my knee and I was having it cleaned," said Benjy doubtfully.

"Well, I think I know what your teacher meant," his father said. "You see, the Sanctuary was a special place where G-d's presence actually dwelt - it was a place where G-d could actually rest on this lower world. Nowadays, it's possible for us to make our synagogues and homes into a mini Sanctuary."

"Yes, so that's why I'm trying to make a Sanctuary in my room," said Benjy.

"Yes, but it doesn't mean a Sanctuary with planks and curtains like they had in the desert. What it means is that we have to make our homes into a dwelling place for G-d. How do you think we can do that?"

Benjy thought hard. "By doing good deeds?" he ventured.

"That's right! By doing good deeds, Mitzvot, by following G-d's commandments and by learning His Torah - through all these we make our synagogue, home or room into a little Sanctuary."

Benjy thought for a minute. "I know!" he exclaimed, "I can make sure I have a charity box in my room, and also some Jewish books, and a prayer book - that way my room will be a place for Mitzvot. It will be my own personal Sanctuary!"

"Especially since there is a mezuzah on the door," said his father. "Yes," said Benjy. "That helps to make it holy."

Benjy put the large book about the Sanctuary on the table, and opened it. There were beautiful pictures and diagrams. However, looking at the pictures, in his mind's eye he could see his own room, with the charity box and prayer-book, and the mezuzah on the door.