D'var Torah: "And I will dwell amid Klal Yisrael, and I will be to them Elokim" (Shemot 29:45). The Seforno sheds light on this verse. "And I will dwell amid Klal Yisrael" -- to accept their Divine Worship favourably and to listen to their prayers. "And I will be to them Elokim" -- I will oversee their affairs without an intermediary. 'And from the luminaries, they should not fear' (Yermiyahu 10:2). They should be more honorable before Me than the Heavens. For the ways of Klal Yisrael are according to their restraints. And from these restraints, their Eternity is manifest.
Moral: The Seforno explains that there are two factors that make Klal Yisrael beloved to HaShem. One is that HaShem dwells amongst us so that we find favor in His eyes. The other is to rule over us without an intermediary and to convert our restraints, i.e., our observance of the Mitzvot, into Eternity. Just as we master over our nature, so too, HaShem grants us Eternal Life.,
Application: Recite the verse, "And I will dwell amid Klal Yisrael, and I will be to them Elokim." Internalize the message of this verse into your heart. Know that HaShem dwells amongst Klal Yisrael to find favor in His eyes. HaShem rules over us without an intermediary. HaShem raises us over the luminaries because of our restraints, i.e., our Mitzvah observance. For instance, our compliance with Shabbat, ruling over our nature, grants us Eternal Life.
(Based on the commentary of the Seforno)
