Beruflich Dokumente
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Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series Yom Haatzmaut 5777
Mikdash will be built in the place that quintessential Jewish king and the
Hashem will choose, implying that , progenitor of Mashiach.
the location will be revealed through , , , King David may have paid a terrible
prophecy when its time comes.9 If price for this bold decision. We can
David sought an appropriately holy , only imagine that the political and
site in the Torah, he could have picked military leadership in Chevron, who
Bet El, which is explicitly described as ( ) , had stood by David in difficult times
the house of God and the gateway and now expected to reap the fruits
to heaven,10 or even his original . of their investment by ruling over the
capital of Chevron, the residence and And the king and his men went to other eleven tribes, were disappointed
eternal burial place of our forefathers Jerusalem Once the two kingships by what they saw as the naive idealism
and foremothers. within Israel had been united, because of David; in their small-mindedness,
Perhaps for this reason, Malbim until now the tribe of Yehudah was under they may even have felt betrayed
assumes that Davids motivation David and the remaining tribes (led by him. It is no wonder, then, that
was political rather than theological. by Shauls tribe Binyamin) were under when Davids son Avshalom decided
Chevron was the capital of the tribe Ishboshet, and they became one kingdom to rebel against his father and usurp
of Yehudah, and was located in the under David it seemed right, and thus the throne, he found willing allies in
heart of Judean territory, far from was the will of God, that the royal city Chevron, and declared his rebellion
the other tribes. All twelve tribes should lie on a boundary that was there:
had agreed to accept David as their connected to both kingly tribes. This was
Jerusalem, which lay half in Yehudah
king even if he ruled from afar, but
David knew that his choice of capital and half in Binyamin as is written in
the description of the borders of the :
would send a clear message to the
land, and as the Sages taught a strip
entire Jewish people. Throughout
protruded from the portion of Yehudah :
the book of Shoftim, the tribes were :
not unified,11 and at times were even into the portion of Binyamin and on it
the altar was built. (Yoma 12a)
at war with one another.12 The Jews
Malbim, Shmuel II 5:6 :
were finally unified under King Shaul, After a period of fortyyears had gone by,
from the tribe of Binyamin, and then Absalom said to the king, Let me go to
the kingship was taken from him and Yerushalayim Hebron and fulfill a vow that I made to
bestowed upon David. How would
David conceptualize his kingship? Did represents the unity of the LORD. For your servant made a vow
when I lived in Geshur of Aram: If the
he represent his own tribe of Yehudah,
and see his anointment as the victory
the Jewish people, and LORD ever brings me back to Jerusalem,
I will worship the LORD. The king said
of Yehudah over Binyamin? Did he the ability to transcend to him, Go in peace; and so he set out
rule the entire Jewish nation because
Yehudah deserved to rule over the our political divisions for Hebron. But Absalom sent agents to
all the tribes of Israel to say, When you
other tribes? This would have been
exactly the message he sent had he
in the name of the hear the blast of the horn, announce that
Absalom has become king in Hebron.
established his capital in Chevron. But eternity of the nation. Shmuel II 15:7-10
David rose above partisan politics and
made a bold decision. Yerushalayim David demonstrated forcefully and Thus began the darkest and most
was on the border of Yehudah and dramatically that now that he was difficult episode of Davids life, and we
Binyamin,13 straddling the two tribes anointed as king of Israel, he no longer might imagine that it would not have
who vied for leadership of the Jewish belonged to his kin and political happened if David had kept his capital
people: allies, but to Klal Yisrael, to the Jewish in Chevron. But a great leader is one
nation. Perhaps for this reason, David who makes the right decision even if
,
is known to this very day as the he may pay a great personal price.
,
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Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series Yom Haatzmaut 5777
Yerushalayim, then, represents first , unity among different schools of
and foremost the unity of the Jewish halachic thought, but the power of
people, and the ability to transcend . Yerushalayim even bridged the gap
our political divisions in the name of When the SupremeSanhedrinwas in between those who were dedicated
the eternity of the nation. Perhaps for session, there was never any prolonged to halachic observance and those
that very reason, Hashem decided to difference of opinion among the Jewish who were not fully observant. In
establish the Beit HaMikdash there, people. Instead, if a doubt arose in Talmudic times, the Jews were
as the Beit HaMikdash represents a Jews mind over any law, he would divided into two religious classes,
Hashems presence dwelling among inquire of the court in his city. If not, the chaverim, who were punctilious
not a faction or sect of the Jewish the questioner and that court or about ritual purity, and the amei
people, but Klal Yisrael. The halacha its agents ascend to Jerusalem and haaretz, who neglected these (and
is established in accordance with the ask the court which holds sessions on other) halachot. Generally, a chaver
opinion that Yerushalayim lo nitchalka theTempleMount. If they know, they would refrain somewhat from contact
leshevatim, Yerushalayim is not the will reply to him, if they do not know, with the person and property of an
inheritance of specific tribes, or of everyone comes to the court that holds am haaretz, for fear of contracting
its individual residents, but rather sessions at the entrance to the Temple ritual impurity. But when Klal Yisrael
the national heritage of the Jewish Courtyard. If they know, they will reply came together in Yerushalayim on
people.14 to him, if they do not know, everyone the three pilgrimage holidays, these
As long as the Beit HaMikdash stood comes to the Chamber of Hewn Stone, halachic restrictions were relaxed,
in Yerushalayim, it served as a source to the SupremeSanhedrin, and presents and all Jews were considered equally
of religious unity among the Jewish the question. If the matter that was trustworthy in halachic matters. The
people. Since there was only one unresolved by all the others was known Talmud Yerushalmi explains that this
eternal capital of the Jewish people, to the SupremeSanhedrin either as unity was brought about through the
and one Beit HaMikdash in its center, part of the Oral Tradition or because unifying power of Yerushalayim:16
the great Sanhedrin sitting there of its derivation through the principles
was the ultimate religious authority. of exegesis they relate the decision ...
There was no possibility, as there is immediately. If, however, the decision
nowadays, for competing halachic was unclear to the SupremeSanhedrin,
authorities in competing religious they deliberate about the matter at that And in Jerusalem they are reliable even
centers, because there was only time and debate it back and forth until with regard to sacred items, and during
one central location that bestowed they reach a uniform decision, or until the pilgrimage festivals even with regard
ultimate authority on those who a vote is taken. In such a situation, they to terumah Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi
convened there:15 follow the majority and then tell all said: Jerusalem built up, a city knit
the questioners: This is thehalacha. together (Psalms 122:3) A city that
The questioners then all depart. After makes all Israel friends (chaverim).
, the SupremeSanhedrinwas nullified, Talmud Yerushalmi, Chagigah 3:6
differences of opinion multiplied among
the Jewish people. One would rule an To this very day, we experience the
article is impure and support his ruling unifying power of Yerushalayim three
with a rationale and another would rule times a day, when Jews worldwide
, that it is pure and support his ruling turn to Yerushalayim in prayer:
with a rationale. This one would rule an -
, article is forbidden and this would rule ( ) :
, that it is permitted. - ;
Rambam, Hilchot Mamrim 1:4 (: ,
, (translated by R. Eliyahu Touger . )
Chabad.org) One who was standingin the Diaspora
, should focus his heart toward Eretz
Not only did Yerushalayim ensure
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Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series Yom Haatzmaut 5777
Yisrael, as it is stated: And they shall must also remember that the essence others knew this tradition, but he does not
pray to You by way of their land (I of Yerushalayim is found not in discuss whether King David was among them.
Kings 8:48). One who was standing geographical or political boundaries, 6 Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 10.
in Eretz Yisrael should focus his heart but in the unity that Yerushalayim 7 Bereishit Rabbah 69:7.
toward Jerusalem, as it is stated: And creates within the Jewish people.
8 Chazon Ish, Yoma 126:8, asserts that it is
they shall pray to the Lord by way of To merit the complete rebuilding the universal opinion of the Sages that it was
the city that You have chosen(I Kings of Jerusalem, we must rededicate not known beforehand that Yerushalayim
8:44). ourselves to enhancing unity within would be the future site of the Beit
Talmud Bavli, Berachot 30a the Jewish people by transcending our HaMikdash.
partisan divisions and embracing the 9 Sifrei, Devarim 62.
We do so not only because
eternity of Jewish peoplehood. Those
Yerushalayim is the conduit to the 10 Bereishit 28:17. It is likely that Yeravam
who have the privilege of residing in was inspired by this verse to establish one
heavenly realms, but in order to
the environs of Yerushalayim must of his two temples in Bet El. It was not
emphasize the unity of the Jewish difficult for him to convince the Ten Tribes
radiate inclusiveness and brotherly
people. Although we stand in different that it was more logical to worship in Bet El,
love, and those dwelling afar must
synagogues, with different customs, where Hashem revealed himself to Yaakov,
respond by turning our hearts in
cultures, and standards, spread among and Yaakov built a monument and offered
the direction of togetherness and a sacrifices, than in Yerushalayim, which was
six continents, we pray not merely as
feeling of fellowship with all those declared holy a mere two generations ago by
individuals or congregations, but as prophets from the court of David.
who pray toward Yerushalayim. In this
one Jewish people:17
unification of Yerushalayim lies the 11 See e.g., 5:14-18.
, : secret to our eternity, and in its merit 12 See e.g., 12:1-6, 20:12-48.
, - may we see the speedy fulfillment of
, 13 Yehoshua 15:63 and 18:28. See Talmud
our heartfelt prayer: Bavli, Yoma 12a.
;
14 Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Beit
.
HaBechirah 7:14, based on the Gemara Yoma
Consequently,onestanding in the
. 12a and Bava Kama 82b. For an elucidation
East turns to face west,and one of this topic, see http://www.yutorah.org/
To Jerusalem Your city may You return
standingin the West, turns to face lectures/lecture.cfm/870312/rabbi-assaf-
with mercy and dwell in the midst of it as
east.One standingin the South, turns bednarsh/who-owns-yerushalyim/.
You have spoken, and build it soon and
to face north,and one standingin the 15 See Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 14b and
in our day as an eternal structure.
North, turns to face south; all of Israel Avodah Zarah 8b melamed shehamakom
findthemselvesfocusing their hearts gorem.
Endnotes
toward one place. 16 See the full passage in the Talmud
Talmud Bavli, Berachot 30a 1 Shmuel II ch. 5. Yerushalmi there, and compare to Talmud
Bavli, Chagigah 26a; Rambam, Mishneh Torah,
This year, we have the unique privilege 2 Shmuel II ch. 6. Hilchot Metamei Mishkav Umoshav 11:9-11.
of celebrating the fiftieth anniversary 3 Rashi, Bereishit 22:2. 17 See also Talmud Bavli Berachot 29b-30a,
of the re-unification of Yerushalayim and Rashi there s.v. lishatef nafshei, for an
4 Ch. 12 v. 5, 11, 14, 18, 21, 26; ch. 14 v. 23,
as the capital of the State of Israel. 24, 25; ch. 15 v. 20; ch. 16 v. 2, 6, 7, 11, 15, 16; application of this principle with regard to
We will praise and thank Hashem ch. 17 v. 8, 10; ch. 18 v. 6; ch. 26 v. 2; ch. 31 v. the language of prayer. See also Talmud Bavli
for the miracle of the Six-Day War 11. Shabbat 12a-12b, and Rashi there s.v. betoch
and the gift of Jewish sovereignty cholei yisrael.
5 Rambam, in Moreh Nevuchim III:45,
over an undivided Jerusalem. But we assumes that Moshe Rabbenu and many
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Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series Yom Haatzmaut 5777