Bene Yisrael instructions for building a sanctuary.
Let them build Me a sanctuary, so that I can live in their midst, (Shemot 25:8) This directive is already deeply troubling. Does God require a physical place? Does God think that the people believe this, and therefore God must accommodate their beliefs? If this represents a stage in our ancestors’ theological development, how will this advance their thinking? Even more broadly, every culture and religious tradition recognizes sacred space, and many build monuments or temples to mark those locations. This directive challenges us to ask the question: what is the purpose of a Temple, a