"And they will take unto me a donation" - "Open to me, my sister, my love," until when will I be without a house: "that my head fills with dew," but make for me a sanctuary, so that I won't be outside.

The Mishkan was ordained by God to be a physical sign of His presence - so he may dwell in our midst ("VeShachanti BeTocham") actively influencing our life decisions and daily behavior. It was not the intent of Hashem in commanding His nation to build the Mishkan and institute the sacrifices only to receive the homage of a grateful nation and to enthuse them with the attending pomp and ceremony.

Today, like then, the plaint of Hashem is "SheLo Eheyeh BaChutz" - "Don't leave me out; I want to dwell within you. This is where I belong." If there is any area of our lives to which Hashem is not admitted, we violate our covenant with Him. Hashem speaks to us today in the language of halacha. We must not silence the voice of halacha in any of our life pursuits - from the most vital to the least significant. Halacha is the absolute decisor of what is ethical and moral in medicine, law, business, politics, and family relations. To fail to apply the yardstick of halacha in these areas is to "push" Hashem out of our house, repeating the mistake of our ancestors; Hashem wonders Ad Matai Ethalech BeLo Bayit!

Inviting Hashem into our homes means that he is present in every room. It is not only in the kitchen that his impact is noted by kashrut and symbols on food items. He is also in the computer room asking you to evaluate what you wrote, what you read, and how you acquired your software. He is even in the gym, monitoring the shouts from the stands, the behavior on the court, and the dress of our talmidim.

Our generation is blessed to live in an age when Torah values can be our guide. Religious freedom permits us to invite Hashem into every aspect of our lives. We must understand that our lives are enriched and ennobled when our minds and hearts become a Mishkan Hashem.