Voices of WRJ: T'rumah

by Phyllis Bigelson Parashat T’rumah tells of the beginning of the building of the Mishkan, where God would dwell among the Jews as they traveled in the desert. The text does not state that God shall actually dwell in the sanctuary, but that he “may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). God is not living in the Mishkan, but instead among the Israelites themselves wherever they travel. In my own life, I have traveled back and forth from the East Coast to the West, first to care for my mother and now for my sister, with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. I know God always travels with me and is there to help guide my way and give me strength, even when I am far away from my own family, friends, and synagogue. When I had the difficult task of traveling across the country and finding an Alzheimer’s home for my sister this past year, I called upon the WRJ women in her area for help. Within an hour, I received telephone calls from a Rabbi and several WRJ sisters offering assistance and guidance. The WRJ community has always been among my “travelers” by supporting me emotionally wherever I travel. I am not sure I would have been able to handle this situation by myself. God is living among us every day, wherever our roads may lead us in life. In this week’s portion, the Torah tells us specifically what materials are to be gathered. The oil was used to light the menorah to give off light to everything around it. The spices gave off a beautiful smell to all of their surroundings. The people may not have had precious stones to donate to the structure; however, they had the opportunity to contribute with their efforts, toward these meaningful items. The most beautiful and giving things in life are those that require our active effort. Being a good person and a good Jew is rewarding to ourselves and others because we take the time and effort to understand and share the beauty in the world with others. Every time we share at Havdalah, I remember this portion of the Torah, with our sweet-smelling spices and beautiful twisted candle. The question we all need to ask ourselves is what gifts are we willing to give? Do we give of our time, our skills, the money we donate? Do we build personal sacred structures wherever we go? Do we help others when they travel their own personal journeys, whether they are through a desert or just a challenging time in their lives? What we all share in common is the need to create the individual spiritual structure where God’s presence can be felt. Through our WRJ friends, our commitment to our camps, our YES Fund scholarships, and many other worthwhile projects, we construct a type of Mishkan, where we want God to reside. Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotsk stated “God lives wherever we let God in.”  May God live wherever you travel and reside and in all of our hearts. Phyllis Bigelson is WRJ Pacific District President, a WRJ Board member, and an active member of Temple Ahavat Shalom in Northridge, CA. The most important part of her life is her husband, Bill, of 44 years, and her two daughters and four grandchildren.