Building a Sanctuary of our Godly Actions (Shabbat Bechukotai)

This is a bittersweet moment for me.

Today is my second-to-last Shabbat service. As you are all now hopefully aware, I depart Orchard Cove mid-June when my husband and I move to Philadelphia where he begins as faculty at the rabbinical seminary where he was ordained. Though I’m sad to say goodbye to you all I’m incredibly proud of the vibrant community we have grown here over the last five years!

We’ve journeyed together through so much — countless moments of turmoil and celebration; many losses and some new beginnings. Together we built a special place to hold all these powerful moments. In this week’s parasha we read how the Israelites create a special place — the mishkan, the desert Tabernacle.

When the Israelites dedicate this sacred space, God, in turn, promises them:

V’natati mishkani b’toch’chem / I will establish My abode in your midst,

v’hithalachti b’toch’chem / and I will go everywhere with you (Lev 26:11-12).

The first verse speaks of the desert Tabernacle, in which the Holy One will journey with the Israelites; in the second, however, no structure is mentioned – just an assurance the Divine Presence will go with them. Fifteenth century Italian rabbi and commentator, Sforno, understands these two verses as describing a process of spiritual growth. He teaches:

“…as long as the Temple or Tabernacle stood…only these locations were holy domains, the people having to come there if they wanted to experience sanctity and holiness.”

But, he goes on to say,

“this was only an initial step in regaining…closeness between God and Israel… In the future, wherever the righteous would be found holiness would be present. This is the meaning [of v’hithalachti b’toch’chem / and I will go everywhere with you].

The Israelites once depended on having a particular structure through which to meet the Holy One. Losing this familiar rhythm was hard, and left some people uncertain and anxious about how they could reconnect with each other and their guiding values.

But on the other side of this loss, Sforno says, people began to find God any place or time they chose to act in godly ways. These many years, through your godly actions – your righteousness and generosity, your patience and compassion, we have created an incredibly vibrant and welcoming religious and spiritual community here.

Though I leave Orchard Cove on June sixteenth, I leave with a full heart. I know everything we built here – through our learning and celebration, during visits and conversations, are only steps in a process of drawing closer and closer to our community’s fullest potential — and discovering the godliness, the goodness, in our midst.

Under your continued stewardship and care — in all the ways I know you will continue to be gracious and patient with each other during this transtional time; supportive or Rabbi Joel, and whoever is blessed to take over my role next, I am confident the sense of connection we established here will only continue to deepen for you in the weeks and months to come.

Chazak chazak v’nitchazek. May we go from strength to strength.