Making feeling joyful a priority
Mrs. Malkie Klaristenfeld
This month’s parshiyos focus on the building of the Mishkan. The root of the Hebrew word Mishkan — shin, chaf, nun — means “drawn to it.” We were drawn to the Mishkan, and more importantly, the Shechinah was drawn there too; this was its resting place in This World.
The pasuk says, “V’asu li mikdash v’shachanti b’socham.” To dwell with the Shechinah, we needed to bring ourselves to the Mishkan. But first we must create space for the Shechinah to rest. That’s a task that often feels impossible.
The pasuk also tells us, “V’yikchu li terumah.” Rav Moshe Weinberger explains that terumah comes from the root word “l’harim,” to lift. Hashem wants us to make Him the most important thing in our lives; lift ourselves up toward Him, to make connecting to Him deeply our top priority.
Chazal state, “Mishenichnas Adar, marbim b’simchah.” But how can we feel simchah while experiencing challenges? The Sfas Emes says that the only way to increase joy is to allow the spirit of Adar to penetrate deep within us.
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