Miryam's Space

Giving as the gift. When a soul is full of gratitude we may be inspired to give, and in doing gain even more. Gratitude, I am convinced more and more, may be the whole ball game, what we’re here for.

But back to our story. When we Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, God redeemed us at the Sea and we became bound in covenant at Sinai. Tradition says we were all of us there in our makom, place around the mountain. When the day came, where it was time to leave the place of our inspiration. I remember saying“I don’t want to go back to work” Oh, we have to go? Then I want to take all of this amazing feeling with us.

What have been your moments of clarity and inspiration, where the one-ness just overwhelms, when we intuit our place around the mountain and G8d calls our name? Maybe you have taken part in protest marches. Or were part of the vast desert sky full of stars, Or that moment of seeing your bashert, or your new born child for the first time How do we leave these Holy encounters and go back to the mundane tasks of life?

Torah’s answer: Give from your heart, make something beautiful– a space where G8d can dwell. Make it to divine specs The word Mishkan, the name for the portable sanctuary we would build, comes  from the same word as Shechinah. Maybe the space you will be building for G8d to dwell will be in your own heart.  G8d spoke to Moses, saying:

וְיִקְחוּ־לִ֖י תְּרוּמָ֑ה

Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart so moves him.

gold, silver, and copper;

וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ וְעִזִּֽים׃

blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, goats’ hair;

tanned ram skins, dolphin skins, and acacia wood;

oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃ the aromatic incense;

lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃

And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell within them.

Reb Nachman of Bratzlav says in that when you open your heart to give, your heart remains open to receive from above. And what you receive in return is something more precious than metals, gems and the other offerings. When you open your heart to give, what you receive comes from the “Supernal Heart”, Noam HaElyon, the Divine Pleasantness.

there is something about giving with all your heart. You get more than you give. In the afterglow of Sinai so many people gave, Moses had to say “stop, enough”! We did it together

Perhaps redemption at the sea and seeing the thunder at Sinai were for actually for this -communal heart opening

What would you give at Sinai – that’s personal and beautiful and real?

For me music. has been my sulam, my ladder to the heavens, healing and heart opening. In the past, my giving has brought me to assisted living facilities for many years to play old time songs, and Jewish songs at the time of the holidays. You should see folks come alive when songs from their childhood are sung. Music has the charm to soothe the savage breast.   And it’s been sad not to be able to give in this way during the past year.  And I just realized the other day, speaking to my spiritual counselor, that my volunteer work on line has come along just at this time, and has become my way to give.

Now in 2026, I hope to build a Mishkan, a dwelling place in where people can sing, and be inspired, connect to the Holy One of blessing and to one another. But it also must be a place where folks can give of their heart, where their talent is needed and appreciated. Anne Gregory Teicher has just stepped forward to volunteer in managing the website. Others of you have begun taking classes, Bonnie will read Torah. I want to sing Halleluyah! Now we can begin to build!

Olam chesed yibaneh. I will build this world from love, and you must build this world from love; and if we build this world from love, then G8d will Olam chesed yibaneh. I will build this world from love, and you must build this world from love; and if we build this world from love, then G8d will build this world from love!