Ten brides, ten grooms, ten wedding canopies, ten Rabbis — one hall, one band, ONE nation!
Earlier this week in a novel idea — Chabad of Savyon in Israel hosted 10 weddings at the same time for soldiers who had deferred their weddings due to being called to combat.
In an interview, the Rabbi who spearheaded the project said, we wanted to do something big for the people of Israel and to help win the war. “I know we win the war when we build the house, so tonight we are making ten Jewish weddings and we’ll build ten houses This is the way we’ll win the war”.
In this week’s Torah portion we read of the constructing of the Tabernacle— the house of G-d. The description of the enthusiasm of the people is delightful. Generosity of heart abound, wisdom and tremendous talent stepped forward to get it done. Yet Torah always has relevance to us. It’s a timeless and transcendent wisdom.
The story of construction is microcosmic in each of us. Each person creates an abode for G-dliness. Each family unit creates a Tabernacle right at the address that we live. Our homes, our marriages & our families, create the sanctuary. Our Jewish practices, Jewish ethos, celebrations, Torah and Mitzvas in the home — sanctifying our own personal Tabernacles.
“When we build the house we win the war”. How true in every which way… both in Israel and in diaspora — we are at war and it’s up to each of us to make sure we build the house to ensure Jewish pride, continuity, vibrancy and an Am Yisrael that is CHAI!!