Holy Temple on Water
Tucked away in the beautiful writings of Chazal, one can find a deliberate connection being established between the teiva of Noach and the Beit HaMikdash. The Midrash Rabbah (Bereishit Rabbah 26:2) homiletically interprets the verse in Sefer Tehillim (92:14) that describes the righteous tzaddik being planted in the house of Hashem, שתולים בבית ה’. The […]
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Jerusalem and the Divine Image
The Gemara Yoma (64b) records a fundamental debate amongst the Tannaim as to how the world was created. Throughout the extended discussion, the Chachamim, the sages of the beit medrash, conclude that Jerusalem is truly the center of the world. מציון נבראו, both the land and sky were created from Tzion. The אבן שתייה serves as the Foundational Stone for all of creation. This central role of Jerusalem is […]
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The Booth of David
Normally, when reciting birkat hamazon during a yom tov, we say a generic verse for all holidays הרחמן הוא ינחילנו יום שכלו טוב, “the Compassionate One! May He cause us to inherit the day which is completely good.” And yet, on the first night of Sukkot, we will recite two verses. In addition to the […]
Explore moreBundled Together Lifnei Hashem
Only once a year was entry into the Kodesh HaKadoshim sanctioned. With the service of the haktarat haketoret, the burning of the incense, the Kohen Gadol was allowed to enter the holiest sanctum in the world. The Gemara Keritot (6a-6b) explicates the various different ingredients of the ketoret and their measurements. Almost all of the […]
Explore moreHunting the Fox in Our Midst
The tractate of Makkot famously ends with the story of four tannaitic sages ascending to see Jerusalem. Rabban Gamliel, Rebbe Elazar ben Azaryah, Rebbe Yehoshua, and Rebbe Akiva lived immediately after the destruction of the second temple. They would periodically return to Jerusalem, presumably to yearnfully pray for the city’s restoration. When they reached the […]
Explore moreDivrei Torah on Jerusalem
Divrei Torah on Jerusalem by Rabbi Reuven Schreier Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech / פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים־וַיֵּלֶךְ Migdal David: the Burdensome Stone of Jerusalem Migdal David, the Tower of David, is a classic landmark of the old city of Jerusalem. Standing right next to Sha’ar Yafo, thousands of residents and visitors pass by the fortress daily. The citadel […]
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Jerusalem Sanctifies the First Fruit
Our parsha opens with the mitzvah of bikkurim, the commandment of separating the first fruit and bringing it to the Beit HaMikdash in Yerushalayim. The details of this unique commandment are a strange blend of several areas of halacha. On one hand, bikkurim has all the telltale signs of a zeraim (plant oriented) mitzvah. Like […]
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God in Your Encampment
Last week, we discussed the strange phenomenon of the Kohen Meshuach Milchama. This is a sanctified office of kehunah solely created for the purposes of leading Klal Yisrael in war. We noted that this practice, as well as the Aron Kodesh joining Klal Yisrael in their war encampments, represent Jerusalem extending herself in times of […]
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Anointed for War: Jerusalem Leads Us Into Battle
This week’s Torah portion describes various halachot pertaining to war. Given what has transpired over the last 10 months, the last two aliyot particularly strike a painful chord, while simultaneously reminding us of what makes Klal Yisrael so special. The Torah describes the mitzvah of the Kohen Meshuach Milchama, the priest who is anointed to […]
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The Daughters of Israel are Beautiful, All of Israel are Princes
Last week, we discussed the miraculous redemption of Rebbe Yishmael ben Elisha. After rescuing the grandson of Rebbe Yishamel Kohen Gadol from Rome, Rebbe Yehoshua sent him back to Eretz Yisrael to study Torah with his trusted chavruta and dear colleague, Rebbe Eliezer ben Hurknus. Rebbe Yishmael quickly rose to become one of the greatest […]
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