A house protects us from the elements. A home provides something far deeper.

What is it about the human soul that refuses to settle for shelter alone?

In the Parsha of Terumah, the Torah commands the building of the Mishkan, a sanctuary that becomes a dwelling place for the Divine Presence. Redemption from Egypt is followed not only by freedom, but by the act of building a home for Hashem.

Why?

Why does the Torah describe the Mishkan in the language of home?

And why is exile so often defined as being sent away, not merely from land, but from belonging?

There is a deeper pattern woven through the Parsha of Terumah. Even in comfort, many people carry a quiet sense of displacement. Even surrounded by walls, something can feel missing.

Drawing on the Ramban, Pirkei Avot, and the inner meaning of the Mishkan, Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein explores a question that lies at the heart of the human condition:

Where do we truly belong?

Key Questions Explored

• What transforms shelter into belonging?

• Why does exile feel deeper than geography?

• What does it mean to build a home for the Divine?

• Where does the human soul feel most at home?