Page 53 - HaMizrachi Yom Yerushalayim - Shavuot 5782 USA

From the “Goren”

to Home Again

Rabbanit
Shani Taragin

s we celebrate the David insists on purchasing the land a vacuum; it is the “measure for
55th anniversary and oxen at full price. He then builds measure” reward for the kindness
of the reunification the altar and offers sacrifices, thereby David’s great-grandfather Boaz
A of Yerushalayim, we ending the plague. displayed to Ruth the Moabite. In
feel renewed appreciation for the Throughout the various accounts of the merit of providing Ruth with six
miracles of our time and marvel at the story, the goren, the threshing floor measures of barley in the threshing
the materialization of the prophets’ floor, purchasing the field of her
messages. Yirmiyahu’s prophetic of Aravnah, is mentioned repeatedly – deceased husband and marrying
four times in Sefer Shmuel, five times
words about the end of exile have in Divrei Hayamim I, and once more her, Boaz provided a “bayit,” a home
been fulfilled before our very eyes in Divrei Hayamim II. Each narrative for the eventual Davidic monarchy.
and Zecharia’s assurance that refers to Aravnah’s threshing floor His descendant David subsequently
Yerushalayim will one day be resettled as “the goren” twice, highlighting a purchased the goren for 600 shekels
is no longer merely a vision foreseen particular location. The only other of gold (Divrei Hayamim I 21:25) and
by Rabbi Akiva (Makkot 24b) but a time “the goren” appears in Tanach merited to establish the “Home” of
physical reality. “There shall yet be referring to a specific threshing Hashem’s monarchy.
old men and women in the squares floor is in the story of Ruth (Ruth
of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand 3:3,6,14). Naomi implores Ruth to lay As we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim a
because of their great age. And the down at Boaz’s feet at “the goren” week before reading the story of Ruth
squares of the city shall be crowded (in Beit Lechem) and then wait for on Shavuot, the acts of kindness by
with boys and girls playing” (Zechariah Boaz to instruct further. Boaz does “the goren” resonate. We cannot forget
8:4–5). How fortunate are we to see not disappoint; despite his shock these stories as we recount the courage
these words come true! of David Ben-Gurion upon declaring
at finding a woman by his feet, he statehood in 1948 and Rabbi Shlomo
When celebrating the prophecies that encourages Ruth to stay and, inspired Goren who followed David’s lead by
have already been fulfilled we also by her kindness to Naomi, promises blowing the shofar and offering prayers
reflect upon the eschatological visions to provide redemption. The following of thanksgiving upon the reunification
that have not yet materialized. Even as morning he sends Ruth home with six of Yerushalayim in 1967. On this day
real estate prices in Yerushalayim rise measures of barley and on the same we not only remember Hashem’s hand
to all-time highs, Har HaBayit remains day “redeems” the field of Elimelech in the unfolding of Jewish history but
bereft. “Is it a time for you to dwell and marries Ruth to perpetuate also the human kindness that Hashem
in your paneled houses, while this the deceased, thereby providing an awaits as a prerequisite for rebuilding
House is lying in ruins?” (Chaggai 1:4). everlasting home in Beit Lechem. The His home and the Davidic dynasty.
By revisiting the story of the selection ten generations from Peretz the son May we witness the fruits of the goren
of Yerushalayim as the place for “the of Yehudah to David replace the ten speedily in our days!
House of Hashem Elokim” (Divrei years of the destruction of Elimelech’s
Hayamim I 22:1), we can learn what is home, ultimately leading to David’s
necessary to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash monarchy as promised by Hashem,
of the future. “And your house and your kingdom
In the midst of a punitive pandemic shall be made sure forever” (Shmuel
for conducting a military census, the II 7:16).
prophet Gad implores of King David, By highlighting the location of David’s
“Go and set up an altar to Hashem purchase of the building site of the Beit
on the threshing floor of Aravnah HaMikdash as “the goren,” the prophet A member of
the Jebusite” (Shmuel II 24:18). ensures that the story of Ruth will the Mizrachi
Aravnah the Jebusite offers to give resonate in our consciousness. The Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational Speakers Bureau
the threshing floor, oxen and wood kindness of Aravnah the Jebusite Director of Mizrachi and the Director of the mizrachi.org/
for a sacrifice to the king for free, yet to David should not be learned in Mizrachi-TVA Lapidot Educators’ Program. speakers

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