Parshat Pekudei marks the completion of the Mishkan, the sacred space where B’nei Yisrael would connect with the divine. After weeks of meticulous construction, the Torah describes how Moshe saw all the work that had been done and blessed the people for their efforts. The Mishkan was not just a structure; it was a home for holiness, a place where God’s presence could dwell among the people.
This moment is echoed in a powerful blessing that we recite upon seeing a restored synagogue or place of worship: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, matziv gvul almana. “Blessed are you, our God, sovereign of the universe, who sets a boundary for the widow.” At first glance, this blessing seems unusual. Why compare a rebuilt synagogue to a widow? The answer lies in understanding the deep loss that comes when a sacred space is destroyed. A widow is someone who has lost her partner, her foundation of stability. A community that loses its synagogue or beit midrash experiences a similar grief—a sense of displacement, a rupture in its spiritual life. The rebuilding of that space is a restoration of hope, a reconnection to what was lost.
This idea feels particularly relevant today. Across the world, we see communities striving to rebuild after destruction—synagogues targeted by antisemitic attacks, towns recovering from war, or regions devastated by natural disasters. Just as the Israelites found their spiritual anchor in the Mishkan, modern communities seek to restore their sacred spaces as symbols of resilience and faith.
The joy of reopening the doors, of placing a Torah back in the aron kodesh, is akin to the moment when the Shechinah filled the Mishkan in Pekudei. The blessing of matziv gvul almana reminds us that while destruction can be devastating, restoration is always possible. The widow, once left vulnerable, finds strength again. The community, once displaced, returns home.
May we all work toward a world where sacred spaces are not only protected but also cherished, where every place of worship stands strong as a beacon of divine presence. And may we never lose hope that what is broken can one day be rebuilt.
– Rabbi Eve Posen
Source: Building and Rebuilding
