“Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with G-d,” is a very famous verse from this morning’s haftarah. It was my mother’s favorite Biblical verse. She even learned enough Hebrew to calligraph it. You can find many pieces of art for your home with this. And you can find many translations as well. It is a guiding principle of Judaism.  

We also have the verse from our Torah portion, “How goodly are your tents o Jacob, your dwelling places o Israel.” Lately, we have all been thinking about tents. As a camper, a counselor, a lifeguard and a canoeing instructor, I think about camp every day.  

These two verses are connected in some way. While we can probably come up with as many different definitions of good as there are people in the room and on Zoom, the commentators tell us that the reason tents were good is because they were arranged in such a way that one couldn’t see into their neighbors’ tent. They were more private. I think about that when I look at how some of our suburban houses are built. Think about it. Can you see into your neighbor’s home from your home. Do you have blinds or curtains preventing people from seeing in? This is a form of modesty, we are told. 

Despite this, we need to be careful. While we might say “What happens in my house stays in my house,” as a desire for privacy and modesty and humility, it can also be used to conceal abuse. Our homes are supposed to be places of shalom bayit, peace of the house. As a reminder of that, we put mezuzot on our doorposts, to bless us as we go out and when we come in. 

We begin to mark the Three Weeks tomorrow, the period of time leading up to Tisha B’av, the period of mourning commemorating when the Holy Temple was destroyed. But all was not lost. Since the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, our own homes are supposed to be a mikdash me’at, a small sanctuary.  Our Friday night ritual of candles, kiddush, motzi, echoes the sacrifices of that Temple. 

In the old Gates of Prayer, we learn in the introduction to Kiddush, page 719 which I actually remembered from my youth, “Wine is the symbol of our joy.” Today is a joyous day, we hope one of many for our bride and groom whom we bless today. A long time ago, 40 years ago actually this weekend, my husband and I learned an important lesson that I often share with wedding couples. When we announced our ow engagement to good friends, the wife was digging in her garden. She had a certification of “Master Gardener”, She stood up and said, “Mazel tov! Alyn, now, go get the champagne.” From that we learn you should always have a bottle of bubbly on ice.  Champagne, or a non-alcoholic bubbly.  To toast the big moments like today, or the little ones, day by day by day. We will toast the big moments soon when we make kiddush.  

The chuppah that is raised tomorrow is a symbol of your first home together. Open on all four sides, like Abraham and Sarah’s tent. A tent from which you can see anyone who is coming. To invite them in and welcome them. Hachnasat orchim, welcoming guests is a high value in Judaism. Shortly we will raise a tallit, held by your four children, and shower you with blessings and candies so your life together will be sweet.  

Our beautiful sanctuary, mishkan, here is also an echo of the Holy Temple. We have the ner tamid, that is always lit. We, as a community, as a team need to always watch it, to ensure it does not go out. We use the rich colors, blue, purple, crimson that they used in the mishkan, We have an ark, an aron kodesh that holds our precious scrolls.   And above the ark it says “Da lifne mi atah omaid. Know before whom you stand.” For me, while I am standing there, it is a humbling moment. I am not in charge. I stand here as a shliach tzibur, a prayer leader, as many of you do, as representative between us and G-d. It is an awesome responsibility. It acknowledges that G-d is in charge.  

The Torah portion today with all of its seeming humor of a talking donkey, makes that point as well. Balak, the local king hires Bilam, the non-Jewish prophet to curse the Jews. Is this the first example of organized anti-semitism? Is it any different than various and too many talking heads today who open their mouths only to curse the Jews? There will be much more to say about the NEA divorcing itself from the ADL, just the latest and most egregious example.  

Yet something remarkable happens. Every time Bilam opens his mouth, words of blessing come out, not curses. Who’s in charge here? Certainly not Balak or Bilam! Da lifne mi atah omed. Know before whom you stand. Know that you are blessed. Know that you are loved.  

How good are our tents, our dwelling places, our sanctuaries. The ancient ones and the ones right here, this very mishkan, and the homes we build with our beloveds. L’chaim.