The news this week has been quite unsettling; massive, deadly riots in Egypt, powerful winter storms across most of the United States and cyclones ripping through Queensland, Australia. Events like these help underscore the value of having a tranquil place to call home.
I specifically say ‘home’ as opposed to a ‘house’. You see, a ‘house’ is just a physical structure. It has walls, a roof, it provides shelter. However, while many places can provide shelter, a true ‘home’ provides emotional security.
A home is a place that nurtures our emotional well being. When we are outside we generally don’t reveal our innermost feelings, we wear ‘masks’ that conceal ourselves in various ways. When we are at home we feel free to express our deepest selves.
They say that a home is where you can say anything you like because nobody listens to you anyway.
In this week’s Torah portion we learn about the construction of G-d’s ‘home’ the Mishkan (sanctuary). G-d desires a dwelling place in this world that would serve as a focal point and a source from which G-dliness would emanate to the rest of the world.
Our homes, too, provide us with a place where we can feel comfortable with our inner selves providing us with the secure footing necessary to be comfortable with our outer selves. This in turn gives us the emotional strength to confront the world.
Creating a true home takes motivation, time and effort. A key component of a true home is shalom bayit, peace. To ensure shalom bayit three critical elements of the home must be strengthened and enhanced; the family relationships (between the parents themselves and between the parents and their children), the atmosphere of the home (warm and inviting for both family and guests) and the way the home functions (shared responsibility of each member of the household).
Once we have the peaceful interactions necessary to create a ‘home’ firm spiritual foundations must be set in place. The spiritual pillars of the ‘home’ are Torah (education and study), avodah (prayer, self evaluation and character refinement), and gemillut chasadim (acts of goodness and kindness).