It’s apropos to have a groundbreaking, the placing of the cornerstone, for the new Chabad Center this Sunday.
In this week’s parsha, the Torah tells us that immediately upon entering the land of Israel, we are commanded to build an altar for Hashem: 'And it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones... and you shall build there an altar to the L-rd your G-d... and you shall offer on it burnt-offerings to the L-rd your G-d, and you shall sacrifice peace-offerings, and eat there, and you shall rejoice...'
"And you shall build for the L-rd your G-d ". The obligation to build a home for Hashem rests upon each and every one of us. The verse is said in second person, as if Hashem is turning to each of us and saying: You yourself, through your own work and with your own strength, must build. Unlike the inheritance of the land "that the L-rd your G-d gives to you”.
When building a Shul, a Jewish Community Center, every community member gets involved to ensure a place where we can have an “altar”. A place where we make sacrifices to enhance our connection to Hashem.
There are two types of sacrifices mentioned in the above verse: The burnt offering and the peace offering. We see the relevance of both in our daily lives.
The burnt offering which was the first sacrifice of the day in the temple, is represented by the daily morning prayer which starts off our day, before eating and drinking or going to work. We all must make a living and go to work. How we go to work is represented by the peace offering. Once we are at work, in the daily engagements in worldly matters, it should be done in a manner that brings peace between the person offering, G-d, and other people. When we do our worldly job in a G-dly way, more people want to connect with Hashem!
Through all this one also merits "and you shall eat, and you shall rejoice...". Your physical sustenance and the sustenance of your household members will be in abundance and in a manner of joy and happiness.
Have a good Shabbos and looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman