Parshat Naso, the current week's Torah portion, tells of the Jews travels through the desert on their way to the Land of Israel. Traveling along with the Jewish people was the Mishkan, a place where G-d's presence would rest amongst them. The Mishkan  (Tabernacle) was a miniature of the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple, which would later stand permanently in Jerusalem. It contained the Holy Ark which held the Tablets given at Sinai, as well as the Menorah and an altar for sacrifices, among other things. The Mishkan, however, was portable, and G-d's presence rested in the Mishkan whenever it was assembled.

In Parshat Naso, the Torah describes which families had the responsibility to dismantle, carry, and set up the various components of the Mishkan throughout the journey. Each time the Jews moved to a new place, the Mishkan was taken apart, carried along for the duration of the trip, and re-assembled part by part when they camped once more.

The Torah details this arduous process to teach us a lesson still relevant today. Although there are places in which G-d's presence is more easily perceived, one can make his own Mishkan, a place where G-d can dwell, anywhere one may be, even in a spiritually barren place, a "desert" where no G-dliness is apparent. We learn from Parshat Naso that G-d can be present anywhere, so long as we invite Him in, and create a personal "home" for G-d to rest within us.

Shabbat Shalom!