From the Face Book Page of Moshe Shorashim
YEARNING FOR JERUSALEM
by Moshe Kempinski
DISCLAIMER – the authors and promoters of the articles and videos that we place here are mostly not connected in any way to KOL HATOR and may well not share our views and interpretations. We do however thank them for their insight and pointers that confirm our understanding and often broaden our insight.
The secret of life is the yearning soul.
We must ask the question as to why HaShem asked that a House be built for Him, even though He clearly knew that it would be destroyed. In the same vein, why did HaShem plant Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden whilst fully knowing that they would fail and be expelled? Why did HaShem create Man and Woman as one, only to then separate them again?
The answer to all those questions is connected to “the power of yearning”. The greatest spiritual force in the Universe is yearning. The world and reality is built along a framework where perfection is displayed and then hidden, where paradise is revealed then lost. The Garden of Eden is revealed and then lost. Man and Woman are created as one and then they are separated. G-d reveals Himself in all His power and Glory during the Exodus in Egypt, and then goes into hiding. The First and Second temples are built and experienced, and then they are lost.
Spiritual existence is about the yearning to reveal that which was hidden and find that which was lost. It is that spiritual force of yearning that fixes the world and restores it to its purpose.
G-d created a reality that would provide need and imperfection and therefore fire up the yearning to restore the world to perfection.
A deeper level is found in a powerful statement by the Rebbe of Kotzk;
“Where is G-d to be found?”, He asked. His answer was that “He is found in the place where He is given entry.”
His Presence may in fact be everywhere but it is only revealed in a place that “makes room for Him” in awareness.
Yearning is the spiritual force that reveals the deepest secrets that are hidden.
Yearning is also the spiritual force that bring back into reality and perception those things that have seemingly disappeared
If one takes a cursory and objective glance at the recent history of the people of Israel and the rebirth of a Jewish commonwealth in the land of Israel, one cannot escape the resemblance to a classic Biblical text. An oppressed, dispersed and maligned people ingathered to their ancient homeland. A small, beleaguered nation fighting off multiple nations intent on their destruction. An economy that began with young pioneers fighting off malaria that has soared to unexpected heights .
One cannot ignore the two-thousand-year-old yearning to return to their beloved Jerusalem .”If I Forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand lose its strength” was the refrain , declared, sung and cried out for countless generations. It was declared in the Ghettoes of Europe, in the Casbah’s of the Middle East, and in the hills of the Gondar province in Ethiopia. It was heard even in the concentration camps of the Nazi murderers.
That yearning then became fulfilled in a miraculous six days in the summer of 1967. A story of Biblical proportions. How can one stand idly by and not burst into song?
If you ever tasted the yearning then you have the power to sing.
Yom Yerushalayim Sameach.
Commentaries
OvadYah Avrahami – Inspiring Reminder, thank you Moshe! Great thought to nurture in times like these when all seem to become so confusing, vain, insurmountable. Let us boost our yearning. Your initial remark urges me to comment: You wrote: ” why HaShem asked that a House be built for Him, even though He clearly knew that it would be destroyed?” A great pointer for our yearning, but in relation to Isaiah’s seven chapters (42 – 49) which describes His preparing in these Final Redemptive Times of ‘His Servant’ to be His Real Temple in which He shall dwell amongst us once again and rule in His Universal Kingdom. And this ‘Servant’ is not what we have understood it to be traditionally. These chapters define it and it can be more correctly understood in light of the virtual evidence of this developing Redemption that we experience and observe these days. Blessings!
Moshe Shorashim – The people, yes, like it says in those chapters – but a House as well in a Land set aside.
OvadYah Avrahami – Like we all need a ‘house’ to live in, sure, and buildings for our authorities. Yet, I think that this ‘Servant’ / Tabernacle concept is much overlooked – especially these Days leading up to Final Redemption. And strange that the prophet Isaiah devotes SEVEN consecutive chapters on this concept, clearly defining it for the ‘End Time’ / Final / all embracing Pinnacle of the Ages Event (Geulah) – when HaShem shall Return His Shechinah to be present with and amongst His people. Clearly, this concept does not refer to a physical Building Structure only. I am glad to receive your agreement on such a ‘building’ (in addition?). One gets the impression from some of HaShem’s statements thru the Prophets that THIS is the ‘Building’ that He truly desires. Is that not something which is generally overlooked and ignored by us?
