Words From Rabbi White

I am writing this “blog” on Yom Yerushalayim, the 28th of Iyyar, which happens this year to be on Memorial Day in the USA. As I wrote last week, Jerusalem Day has especial poignancy for me, as I remember so well the events leading up to it back in ‘67.

We can also point out that if we do the math: 2025-1948=77. The gematria of 77 is the Hebrew word `oz, which means "strength."  And that reminds us of the verse from Psalms chapter 29, that we all know so well from the returning of the Torah: “HaShem `oz le`ammo yitten, HaShem yevarekh ‘et `ammo bashalom,” meaning “HaShem gives strength to His nation, HaShem blesses His nation with peace.” And so, on the days of Yom Ha`Atsma`ut and Yom Yerushalayim, we recognize that the source of the strength that allowed us to defeat the enemy who had been determined to destroy us, came from HaShem. It is also interesting that the traditional Aramaic translation of that verse translates “`oz” as Torah. I.e., HaShem gives us the Torah, which in turn gives us our strength.

Since we referred above to a verse when we return the Torah to the ark, let’s mention a verse from the taking out of the Torah. We are all familiar with the verse from Isaiah chapter 2: “ki mitsiyyon teitsei Torah, u-devar HaShem miyrushalayim.”

This verse is divided into two parts, (a) for from Zion will go out the Torah, (b) and the word of HaShem from Jerusalem. Based on the teachings of Rav Kook, we can say that there are two aspects of Torah: (a) the 613 mitsvot: these apply specifically to the Jewish nation; (b)universal ethical ideas, that apply to everyone in the word.  These can be classified as “devar HaShem,” the words of HaShem. As the prophet says, the inspiration of all these laws, both for Jew and gentile, is Jerusalem.

According to halacha, we should pray facing towards Jerusalem. [When I first became the Rabbi at Chevra Shaas, in our old building on Bourret, I was bothered by the fact that the ark faced westwards, towards Dollard!  Fortunately, this was corrected when we moved to the Spanish!] But what if we don’t know the proper direction? The halacha says that we must direct our hearts to Jerusalem. Nowadays it is much easier: just get the siddur app for your phone, which tells you exactly where to face!!

Before the reading of the Torah on Shavuot, we recite the medieval poem Akdamut. The poem is written in a difficult Aramaic. It is worthwhile to follow along with the English translation, as the poem contains several powerful ideas:  the greatness of God, the efforts of the gentiles to convert us, and the steadfastness of the Jewish people to resist assimilation.

Shabbat shalom, and Chag sameah!

Rabbi Menahem White, Chevra Shaas