We just arrived in Cincinatti Ohio to spend Shabbat and the upcoming holiday of Shavuot with family.
Although I have been here a number of times, I was just taught that the slogan of the state is “Ohio, the heart of it all”
Apparently, the state’s shape is reminiscent of a heart and its place in the USA is to the left, as it would appear in a human body.
While I was cogitating over this new information it made me think about this week’s Torah portion.
This week we begin the book of Bamidbar which means “in the desert”.
The portion describes the hierarchy of the Jewish nation and the formation in which they traveled and camped in the desert.
The twelve tribes were divided into four camps, with three tribes in each encampment. They were set out in a square. The twelve tribes surrounded the next encampment which were the Levites. The most inner encampment was the Mishkan or the Tabernacle.
This is also very interesting information.
It’s important to know how the Jews encamped during their deset wandering.
But is it so applicable to us?
Our Sages teach us that we are taught about this hierarchy and formation to teach us the importance of having the Mishkan in the center of our lives.
The Mishkan brought the actual presence of Gd into the lives of the Jewish people. And by placing the Mishkan in the center of the people it becomes the focal point around which they revolve.
Since their lives are Gdcentric, jealousy and competition are laid to rest, each person, each tribe, has its unique place in the circle with the Tabernacle at the center.
Rabbi Noach Weinberg teaches us that the real measure of a person is not their details, what they do or how much they earn. Rather the measure of a person is in the choices they make. If those choices have Gd at the center then spiritual growth has no limit.
The Mishkan was placed in the center of the formation as Gd was giving the message that power and prestige are not what is important, but having a relationship with Gd and growing spiritually is the core.

We can take this concept to another level when we think of ourselves as “an encampment” and the center of our own being should be a Mishkan.
There is a beautiful song that was written about this idea
“In my heart I will build a Mishkan/Tabernacle/
to glorify His honor
In this Mishkan I shall [also] place an altar
to acknowledge His splendor
And [as for what fire I shall use] I will take to me the fire of the eternal light”
Each person has a unique role to play in this world. And in order to fulfill that potential a person needs to connect to the Gdliness within.
The formation of the Jewish people created a format where everyone knew where they belonged. And when you know where you belong you can use all your talents to show up in a Gdly way. When a person is fueled by this inner spirit, this inner Mishkan, they can inspire all those in their orbit.
Did you see Rachel Goldberg Polin’s address to the graduates of Yeshiva University?
She cried out to the seniors who are getting ready to embark on their journey in a world which may be likened to a desert
“ we are not what we say we are we are not what we think and we are not even what we believe. In this life we are what we do. So go “do” you shining lights of wonder. Be our hope”
We need to build a Tabernacle in our hearts because if we don’t our hearts will break.
That is what the aunt of Ravid Chaim Gez said at his funeral this week. This is the 15 day old baby was delivered in an emergency c-section after his mother Tze’ela was murdered on her way to give birth. His aunt said when she eulogized her nephew “from the moment I saw you, you captured my heart”.
Her brother, the bereaved husband and father, directed his remarks to the safety of the whole community, the whole encampment, that this travesty should never happen again.
Instead of focusing on his own tragedy he shifts the focus to the community at large.
So as we traverse the desert of life which has its share of oases which are balanced against the vast stretches of barren hopelessness we have to keep looking within for the heart.
Deep inside us is that Mishkan, that heart, which, when connected to Gdliness can be the center of our consciousness and that will drive us to keep forging forward and being the light.
“So go DO you shining lights of wonder. Be our hope!”
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!