How can we, flesh and blood human beings, create a physical location which is a worthy residence for G-d's Divine Presence?

Can a mere mortal build a physical place in this material world for the Almighty Who is Infinite? Yet, that is exactly what G-d commands us in Shmot 25, "And they shall make Me a Sanctuary, and so I will dwell in their midst."

The Talmud explains that Bezalel, who was the chief architect of the Mishkan, knew how to apply the secrets of Creation and the mystical combinations of G-d's Holy Names in order to fashion the Mishkan and its vessels. Surprisingly, we can also build our personal Mishkan. We personally can bring G-d's Divine Presence into this world. The question is how is this to be done?

The Talmud in Sotah 17a points out that the difference between the Hebrew spelling of "man and woman" (ISH and ISHA) is just two letters – the YUD of the ISH and the HEH of the ISHA. These two letters, the YUD and the HEH make up one of G-d's Names. Rabbi Akiva taught, "When there is peace and harmony between a man and his wife, then the Presence of G-d rests among them. However, if one removes G-d's Name from the ISH and ISHA by quarreling between husband and wife, what remains is ALEPH SHIN which spells AISH, a destructive fire."

This Talmudic passage clearly shows us that our home is literally the resting place of G-d. Our house is G-d's Mishkan! The word MISHKAN comes from the root, SHACHEN (SHIN-CHAF-NUN), meaning to rest upon or to dwell. The SHECHINAH is the Presence of G-d that can be sensed and felt in this world. One of the ways that the SHECHINAH is manifest in the physical world is through Shalom Bayit (Peace in the Home).

Thus, the Talmud states that the reason G-d gave us the Torah is to increase and spread peace and harmony in the world. Such peace and harmony must begin in our own homes and among our own families.