The Midrash tells us that when Moshe was commanded to build a Sanctuary for Hashem, he trembled and asked, “How can a man make a house for G-d if even the heavens cannot contain You?” Hashem responded, “I do not ask them to make anything commensurate with My capacity. I ask of them only that they build in accordance with their own capacity.” The words of the Midrash, are ojf hpk, “according to their own unique abilities.” They must attain their own potential – theirs and not another’s! When Hashem asked Moshe to sacrifice upon the Mizbayach, Moshe asked, “If all the animals in the world were assembled would that then be considered a fitting enough sacrifice to You?” Hashem responded, “It is not as you think, for Me one lamb a day will suffice, for the rich man an ox and for the poor man a sheep.” But if a rich man brings that which is fitting for a poor man to offer, it is a desecration
Horav Moshe Swift, zl, claims that herein lies the lesson of the parsha. Every man must act in accordance with his own ability and capacity. If the rich man gives tzeddakah like a poor man, he profanes the mitzvah. If one has the ability to be an active participant in the Jewish community and instead he is passive, he degrades both himself and Judaism. If one exchanges attending a shiur, Torah study class, for a sports event or any other form of media entertainment, he has failed to execute his duty.
In order to bring the Shechinah into our midst, we must do our part by maximizing our potential. Whatever our ability, we must demonstrate a proclivity to go “all the way” in serving Hashem. When we reorganize our priorities in accordance with the will of Hashem, we will succeed in having the Shechinah reside among us.
