In this week's Torah portions, Vaiyakel and Pekudei, we read about the construction of the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary that the Jewish people carried throughout the desert. Although the Torah already describes how it should be built, both the structure and the tools used during its construction, these two portions describe how the work was actually carried out.
There are several ways to translate the word Mishkan (this week's central Torah topic). Each translation offers practical life lessons. One possible translation is that Mishkan shares the same root as Shochen, meaning "dwells" or "resides." God resides in a revealed form through good deeds that align with His will.
There are many ways to impact the world for the better, to make it a more suitable place for God's revelation. Some believe the path is politics, direct involvement with government institutions to change the reality of the people.
However, that is not the path of the Torah. While we find many instances in history where great sages had direct contact with kings, emperors, and rulers, it was never in the form of gathering the people, lecturing before them, etc., but rather as advisors, ministers, assistants, or personal servants, without public exposure.
And the reason for this is very simple: The Torah presents a very simple way to improve the world globally and immediately: do good. And what is good? The system the Torah establishes, with 613 commandments for the Jewish people and 7 universal commandments for all peoples. To achieve this, one doesn't need to hold a political position, but rather to act. And action occurs in the simplest moments of life, such as raising children, respecting one's spouse, and acting honestly in business, etc., not necessarily through public appearances in the mass media (which can also be useful when used to inform and educate about what God wants from us, and not to broadcast personal opinions about local leaders).
This is what the Mishkan means to us, so many years after its construction and subsequent destruction. Our work is to make God dwell (lishkon – from the same root as the word Mishkan) in the world in revealed form, so that the reality of God may be consciously seen and felt, as the prophet says, «And the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea.».