Spiritual Alters

“They shall make for me a sanctuary and I will dwell within them”. This is probably one of the most important commandments in the Torah, the commandment to build a temple, to make a home for G-d in this world.

Throughout most of Jewish history we did not have a physical temple. This does not mean that all of the sections in the Torah describing the building of the Temple and its services do not apply to us. There is a well known explanation on the verse quoted previously. The verse states “and I will dwell within them” employing the plural, the sages explain that G-d is saying “within every individual” every person has a sanctuary within their heart.

The sanctuary within the heart is a general idea. You probably heard it many times. And like any general idea at first it is very inspiring and then the challenge sets in: how can we apply this to our lives?

Chasidus teaches that every detail within the sanctuary represents a spiritual idea and is found in the spiritual service of every individual. When we look at the specific, it is easier to apply the message to ourselves.

Below is a outline of the altars and their spiritual meaning.

Outer Altar – the Altar for the sacrifices.

Refers to the level of Malchus of ATZILUT that descends into the worlds of BIY”A to refine the world that is mixed of good and evil. That’s why it was outside the “holy”, for in the holy worlds ATZILUT there is no evil.

The outer Altar represents the external chambers of the human heart, where it is necessary to battle and ultimately refine the evil. This is accomplished in the early parts of the prayers.

Inner altar – the incense altar

The purpose of the incense is not to refine the lower worlds. Rather it is an intensification of the connection to G-d. Therefore this altar was located inside the “holy”.

The inner altar represents the internal most chambers of the soul. Where the challenge is to increase its connection to G-d. This is accomplished during the later parts of the prayer.