They shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)
The simple meaning of the verse is that the Shechina will rest within the Nation of Israel, rather than within the Tabernacle. Indeed, the Gaon of Vilna comments on the verse: "The explanation is that (the Shechina) will rest within Israel, since its emanation is within the heart of Israel."
The Gaon adds the comment "However, Israel requires a unique venue for gathering all hearts together; therefore, God selected the choicest place on earth, the place where the Shechina can rest upon Israel."
That is, the full emanation of the Shechina is within Israel's collective heart, and therefore, "the place where the Shechina can rest upon Israel," the Temple Mount, is the venue which unites the hearts of every individual Israelite into the collective heart of the nation. This is consistent with our Sages exposition of the verse "The built-up Jerusalem is as a united city" [Psalms 122:3] to mean that it is Jerusalem which unites all Israel." [Jerusalem Talmud, Bava Kama 7:7] (David Magence)
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov!
The Va’ad