The World's Heart

In the past weeks, we've discussed concepts relating to the 'Beit Hamikdash' - the temple in Jerusalem. True, Judaism emphasizes that it is of vital importance to always remember the temple and its destruction, even at the most joyous of times (think of the breaking of the glass cup at weddings). However, there is a special time to focus on the temple and how we need it back. It is known as the "3 weeks," which culminates in the 9th day of the Hebrew month of "Av" (this Mon. Night - Tues. Night), a day where Jews worldwide fast; spending the day in prayer, and reflecting on the Temple and its destruction.

Many people may have a problem with this idea. A very obvious question may arise. Aren't there more important things to worry about in this world!? Stuff that's a tad bit more important than a house with sacrifices, incense offerings, and music? The world is full of calamities and sadness!
Tsunamis, earthquakes, crime, depression. Let's just focus our energy and emotion toward asking G-d for a cure to these ills of the world! Why waste so much time & devotion toward petitioning for the rebuilding of this structure in Israel?

Our Sages approach this question with a simple analogy.
"A human being is a miniature world."
Imagine an ailing person who goes to the doctor, complaining of pain in his legs & left arm. He also has a headache and back pain. Exasperated, he turns to the doctor for the diagnosis. "It's your heart," he says. "Once we cure the damage in your heart and heal its ability to pump blood sufficiently throughout your body, your other ailments will instantly cease."

The holy temple in Jerusalem was the heart of the world. The spiritual driving force. The source for the pain and confusion, disharmony and sadness in the world, is the heart. The world needs a temple to be healthy and happy. We need G-d to be Revealed to us. "Evil" can only exist where G-d Hides His Face. Once revealed, all negativity falls away.

We are taught that on the Shabbat before the 9th day of Av, the temple appears to us as a vision in our sleep. May we see the temple while awake, in all of its glory, speedily in our days! :)

-Daniel
P.S. To see my interview from CNN last year on the 9th of Av at the Western Wall, see here

You Have Consoled Us

~ This e-mail is dedicated to the success of a new Hebrew High School I'm beginning :) See more at JewishYouthsd.com ~

As you wind through the narrow streets and tunnels in the majestic old city of Jerusalem, you may just happen to stumble upon a large, open square where children run around kicking a soccer ball, yelling with joy. On a discreet wall in the corner of that square, is inscribed (in Hebrew) a few words from the Prophet Zacharia, which read: "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets."


There's a powerful story in the Talmud where this exact verse from Zecharia is brought: 'Again it happened that Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria, Rabbi Joshua and Rabbi Akiva went up to Jerusalem. When they reached Mt. Scopus, they tore their garments. When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the place of the Holy of Holies. The others started weeping; Rabbi Akiva laughed... Said they to him: "A place [so holy] that it is said of it, 'the stranger that approaches it shall die,' and now foxes traverse it, and we shouldn't weep?" Said he to them: "That is why I laugh... the Torah makes Zachariah's prophecy dependent upon Uriah's prophecy. With Uriah, it is written: 'Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the Temple Mount like the high places of a forest.' With Zachariah it is written, 'Old men and women shall yet sit in the streets of Jerusalem. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.' As long as Uriah's prophecy had not been fulfilled, I feared that Zechariah's prophecy may not be fulfilled either. But now that Uriah's prophecy has been fulfilled, it is certain that Zechariah's prophecy will be fulfilled.' With these words they replied to him: "Akiva, you have consoled us! Akiva, you have consoled us!"

As you watch the boys & girls happily playing around this Jerusalem square, this verse and the accompanying story begin to hit home. How amazing it is to see with our own eyes the source for Rabbi Akiva's laughter!

But we have to remember, we're not fully there yet. While it is true that we are nearing redemption, we still have to put the finishing touches on our lives and in the world around us to fully realize it. We can take heed to the saying of the great Tzemach Tzedek (in Yiddish): "Mach da Eretz Yisroel" - Make here Israel. Elevate your life. This means that even if we're found in CA, NY or Paris, we can live like we're on the streets of Jerusalem. Kedushah - holiness, can be brought into our lives wherever we find ourselves. One coin in a charity box, one smile to a neighbor, one Shabbat candle lit, can transform the darkness of our exile into the light of redemption.

And through living our lives in such a way, may we merit the complete & ultimate redemption, when there will be no more pain and only joy, and all of our children and elders will play and laugh in the streets. May it happen now!

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

Brain vs. Hand

This past Tuesday, Jews worldwide sadly recalled the day - 1,942 yrs. ago - that the Roman army breached the outer walls of Jerusalem on their way to destroying our holy temple. This finally occurred 3 weeks later on the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av, which every year we mark with fasting and prayer (August 9th this year).


Sure, the breaching of our walls, the destruction of our temple, the loss of our sovereignty over Israel and Jerusalem were all sad occurrences. Our ancestors were exiled from the land for thousands of years, dispersed among the nations which, by and large, weren't too thrilled to host us. So of course it's understandable why we mourn these days. But we now have the land of Israel and sovereignty. All that we really lack is the temple in Jerusalem. And is that such a big deal? Well, a little while back, I learned about an interesting argument that occurred between 2 of the greatest Jewish Sages of the 12th century, the Rambam & Ramban - a.k.a Maimonides & Nachmanides (hey, I didn't make these names up). Perhaps this argument can shed some light about what was so special about this temple, and what we are really missing in not having it.

Scripture often mentions that G-d's Divine Presence Dwelt in the Temple during its standing. Maimonides and Nachmanides argue, however, about how G-d Dwelt there. How strongly, how permanently, did G-d's Presence really manifest Itself? Maimonides argued, that G-d's Presence was only there symbolically, without permanence. By way of analogy, let's imagine an author writing a long essay or story. As he writes page after page, imbuing his great intelligence and wit into the story line, would you say that after a while the author's hand got smarter or wittier? That it had developed into something greater? No way! The hand was merely a conduit for the author's intelligence & wit to come into writing onto the page. So too by the temple. This Divine building known as the temple, served as a conduit for G-d to Express Himself. Hence the miracles seen there. But that's all it was. G-d's Presence never actually dwelt there.

Nachmanides, however, argued. G-d's Presence did Reside in the Temple. In a way of permanence no less! Let's imagine a person's brain. As he or she learns more & more wisdom, that person's brain is actually affected! It has developed new nerve connections and wiring, becoming sharper & quicker in its thinking and understanding, storing the wisdom & using it as it develops further ideas. That mass in your head actually changed. The wisdom you learned didn't merely pass through, it stayed in a permanent way. So too, argued Nachmanides, did G-d's Presence manifest Itself in the temple. It's not just that G-d Used it as a place for His Expression to pass through to the world. Rather, the temple was G-d's Home. He Resided there in a way of permanence. He was Comfortable there, more than anywhere else, and we enjoyed His company, His Revealed Presence in the world.

As we remember the glorious days of the temple, and mourn its tragic loss, let's mourn together with G-d For the loss of His home. For until it is rebuilt, the purpose of the creation of the world is left incomplete. But with every good thought, speech & deed that we do, we help bring the day closer when G-d's Home will once again stand in Jerusalem. As our Sages teach, each mitzvah - good deed - that we do, constitutes a brick in the future temple.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel