When the Israelites were wandering in the desert they received a double portion of manna on Friday because they could not collect it on Shabbat. Manna comes from the Hebrew word for gift. Manna was a gift from G-d that fell out of the heavens. When we talk about creating holy spaces we offer gifts. What are the gifts that you bring?

Debbie Friedman, of blessed memory wrote lyrics about our gifts this way:
These are the gifts that we bring
that we may build a holy place.

This is the spirit that we bring
that we may build a holy place.

We will bring all the goodness
that comes from our hearts

And the spirit of God will dwell within…..
These are the colors of our dreams
we bring to make a holy place.

This is the weaving of our lives
we bring to make a holy place.

We will bring all the goodness
that comes from our hearts

And the spirit of love will dwell within…..
These are the prayers that we bring
that we may make a holy place.

These are the visions that we seek
that we may build this holy place.

Let our promise forever be strong,
let our souls rise together in song,

That the spirit of God
and the spirit of love,
Shechinah,
will dwell within.

In her lyrics the gifts we offer are not monetary. Those help to be sure. These gifts are from the heart.

Shabbat is both holy time and holy space. It too is a gift. Like the old Pepsi commercial it is the pause that refreshes. It is the break from the mundane. Time we can spend with God, our families, our communities. May each of you find that holy space, that holy place, that holy time during this weekend. May each of you find a crevice in the rock where you can experience God’s presence. It maybe in the synagogue. It may be standing by the ocean or a pond or a lake. It maybe sleeping in a hamrock, gently rocked by a summer breeze. It maybe in an actual crevice on top of a mountain. But find that space to know that you are loved. That would be a good Shabbat gift. Shabbat shalom.