This week's parashah discusses the building of the Mishkan. We want every Jewish home to be a sanctuary where Hashem resides.
The Gemara tells (Bechoros 7) about a debate between Reb Yehoshua ben Chananya with apikorsim called Saba d'bei Atuna, the wise men of Athens. The wise men of Athens asked Reb Yehoshua ben Chananya, "Where is the middle of the world?"
Reb Yehoshua pointed to "here" and said, "This is the middle of the world."
They asked, "How do you know?"
He replied, "Bring ropes and measure."
The Kotzker zt'l explains that they were asking him, "The Beis HaMikdash used to be in the middle of the world. Where is the Beis HaMikdash today?" With this question, they were teasing Reb Yehoshua ben Chananya, implying to him that the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, and that Hashem turned away from the Jewish nation.
Reb Yehoshua told them, "The Beis HaMikdash is here, in every Yid."
