In this week’s Torah portion (parshat Terumah), the Jewish people are instructed to build a temple for G-d: “And they shall build for Me a temple and I will dwell in them.” G-d will dwell “in them”; the temple is in each and every one of us.
So how do we build this temple in ourselves?
Two of the holy vessels in the temple were the ark (holding the tablets) and the table (for the showbread). The ark measured 2 1/2 X 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 (all measurements are in cubits), whereas the table was 2 X 1 X 1 1/2.
Why is it that the ark is all broken measurements while the table’s measurements consist mostly of whole numbers?
These measurements are meant to teach us how to build our inner temple. We should always perceive our table - our physical and material needs and wants - as being full and complete. Yet, we should always perceive our ark - our spiritual and intellectual (Torah study) pursuits - as being incomplete and constantly in need of development and improvement.
Shabbat Shalom!❤️