Parshat Trumah relates the design of the mishkan, the portable temple in the desert. The narrative is extensive and detailed. Surely there are levels of meaning beyond that of the historical "Tabernacle" itself.
On the pshat (basic) level, the mishkan is designed as a place for the fledgling people to connect with the Shechina (the Presence of Hashem). The divine service in the mishkan infuses their lives with self-worth, unifies the people in vision and purpose, and serves as a spatial organizing element/ rallying point.
It is written that the mishkan-and the Temple that succeeded it 500 years later-represents what the individual strives to make himself: a dwelling for the Divine Presence manifest in this world. Where your whole being is holy and all your parts are dedicated to serving Hashem. In this vein, doubtless every bolt, curtain, and spoon has personal significance to us, each representing spiritual aspects as well as anatomical features. You are to make yourself a Temple.
Perhaps we can suggest a way that, in a broad sense, the mishkan also illustrates process.
The mishkan is an architectural project. All architecture is borne of three interrelated components: a site, a program, and a budget. For example, Teddy Kolleck Stadium is designed to fit on a site in the western part of Jerusalem. Its program consists of a place to seat thousands of spectators plus extensive support facilities, and its construction budget was perhaps 100 million dollars. From this perspective, the mishkan is sited between Israel and Egypt and is programmed as a dwelling for the Shechina. Its budget consists of the trumah (donations) of the people.
This three-part scheme goes beyond physical design to manifest itself on all levels of reality. Although Hashem is not limited by site-program-budget, teshuva-which was created before the universe itself, according to a midrash-is the prototype for this process. As such, we can see how it plays out in the life of an individual.
The element of site refers to your context in life: the opportunities and limitations present in your connections to what is outside you. Married or single, backpacking or settled down, unemployed or company man. The element of program corresponds to the purpose of your teshuva and its potential to affect a tikkun-a healing-in the world. The element of budget represents your inner resources-all the experiences, abilities, and energy available to participate in your teshuva.
The mishkan is thus a model for any endeavor that purports to transform a dream into reality.
Mishkan Sinai to Eretz Yisrael Place for Shechina trumah
Architecture site program budget
Individual stage in life purpose of teshuva personal resources
We can begin to explore this concept by noting the sequence recorded in the Torah. Hashem's command for trumah opens the narrative and refers to the various material donations-precious metals, lumber, textiles, etc.-that the people owned and could offer. Only then does the Torah detail the design and specifications of the mishkan.
In like manner, first we take stock of our individual resources, experiences and abilities, for what is our teshuva if it is not specific to us? From this position of acceptance we can more fully grasp the uniqueness of our teshuva. This can be illustrated by the intake interview many of us have faced upon inquiring to a yeshiva. It is best that the recruiter explores the background and nature of the prospective student, and only then asks him what he wishes to accomplish in yeshiva.
But in reality, both processes are simultaneous; one does not finish making sense of his past and suddenly receive a revelation of his final teshuva, in the way Moshe receives the donations and proceeds to manufacture the mishkan in all its details. Rather, our teshuva unfolds on many scales: from the apology for being cranky with your chavruta this morning to last Yom Kippur's vidui (confession) for abusing your body for half of your life. And, like any architectural project, your teshuva is subject to design revisions as conditions change and new insights come into your life.
What Parshat Trumah really alludes to is the detail work of teshuva. Once the stage has been set to change yourself, you sit down and figure out goals, objectives, and specific tasks, with attention to two relatively independent, but simultaneous, processes: one, the vision of your relation to Hashem and His creation; the other, to what you have.
One way is to make lists. I would start with my budget. I've saved enough to keep parnasa (work/career) at bay for a year or two. I came to yeshiva with knowledge of the "aleph-bet," basic understanding of the Chumash, decent familiarity with contemporary Jewish culture, and the ability to pray.
Next comes my program. I would say my ultimate goal is to "walk before Hashem," feeling His Presence in everyone I see, everything I do, and every place I am, that I may be inspired to initiate and follow through on endeavors that bring His Presence into the world. Aim high; you have a lifetime.
Before I can figure out how to implement the project, I have to survey my site. This is a realistic assessment of the current stage of my life. I'm relatively young, healthy (in body, anyway), and single. At this point, I can begin as complete a teshuva as I can, focused on removing emotional and mental blockages, aimed at:
" Refining my middot (character traits) and identity to the level that I may choose a good wife and together build a joyful, Torah family
" Strengthening my emotional connection to the Jewish People that I may be moved to teach, inspire, and encourage
" Realizing my creative potential through directing it to the cultural advancement of the Jewish People
Despite the cornucopia of personalities, styles and backgrounds of ba'alei-teshuva bochurim, we may find our lists startlingly similar. It is this commonality of purpose that makes us a match for each other, each a different but necessary part of them mishkan.
May our generation merit to prepare the plans for the third and final Beit Hamikdash, with klal Yisrael united in care and purpose, that our personal potential may flower in making the whole world a home for the Shechina.