After the Mishkan was designated as the place to which the Jewish people brought their sacrifices, the Torah prohibited the sacrifices from being offered anywhere else. Our Parsha indicates that one of the reasons for this prohibition was to stem the tide of idolatrous offerings (17:7). Considering the fact that bringing offerings to the Mishkan doesn’t eliminate the possibility of idolatrous intentions, what was the purpose of this requirement?
Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky (The Parsha Parables Anthology) suggests that there is a great benefit to visiting a place of growth and spirituality. Whether it’s the habit of going to a physical place, as in the Mishkan or temple, or simply being around individuals, kohanim, who are there to guide should one need it, being in a supportive environment is paramount to our growth as Jews and as people.
