Page 35 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'Av AUS 2021

TISHA B’AV READING

Rabbi Shalom Rosner

The Partnership

of Kedusha

e end off our reading of
Megillat Eicha with Yirmi-
ָ
yahu’s words ךי ֶל ֵא ’ה ּונ ֵבי ִׁש ֲה
Wה ָבּו ׁשָנ ְו, “G-d, return to us and
we will return to You.” How does this pasuk
fit with another well-known verse, י ַל ֵא ּובּו ׁש
ם ֶכי ֵל ֲא ה ָבּו ׁש ָא ְו, in which G-d says first we
must return to Him, and only then will
He return to us?
The Gemara (Ta’anit 5a) teaches us that
there are two Yerushalayims, ל ֶ ׁש םִי ַל ָ ׁשּור ְי
ה ָּ ט ַמ ל ֶ ׁש םִי ַל ָ ׁשּורי ִו ה ָל ְע ַמ, the Yerushalayim
in Heaven and the Yerushalayim here on
Earth. What does that mean? What is the
relationship between the two Yerushalay-
ims, and how are we to understand this Maybe these two opinions can be linked to where they meet. Does G-d come down to
unusual statement by Chazal? Is there any another debate between them in a totally us, or do we go up to Him?
message we can glean, especially in our
times, when we mourn and yearn for our different context. The Talmud Yerushalmi We can, of course, learn and grow from
Holy City? (Shekalim 9b) tells us that one who speaks both of these views. To once again bask
lashon haKodesh is destined to enter into
We find very different descriptions of olam haba. Why is our ancient Biblical in the glory of the Shechina, to once again
the Beit HaMikdash in the writings of our language called lashon haKodesh, the “Holy gather in our beloved Mikdash, we need
Rishonim. Ramban writes (introduction Language”? What makes it holy? Rambam to both uplift ourselves as well as allow
to Parashat Teruma) that the Mishkan (the (Moreh Nevuchim 3:8) suggests it is because His Shechina to permeate all facets of our
earliest structure we can call a mikdash) there are no inappropriate, unacceptable life. Simultaneously, we need to uplift our-
was supposed to be a continuation of the words in the vocabulary. All is described in selves, ם ֶכי ֵל ֲא ה ָבּו ׁש ָא ְו י ַל ֵא ּובּו ׁש, as well as to
Har Sinai experience. In his words: euphemism, including םי ִל ְג ַר י ֵמ, “water of allow sanctification to seep into our lives,
ָ
ִ
יַני ִס ר ַה ל ַע ן ַכ ָ ׁש ר ֶ ׁש ֲא דֹוב ָּ כ ַה הֶי ְהִּי ֶ ׁש אּוה ן ָּ כ ְ ׁש ִּ מ ַה דֹוס ְו the legs,” and the various private organs of ה ָבּו ׁשָנ ְו ךי ֶל ֵא ’ה ּונ ֵבי ׁש ֲה.
.ר ָּ ת ְס ִּנ ַּ ב וי ָל ָע ן ֵכֹו ׁש men and women. We use this language in Yehi Ratzon that we all merit to experience
a refined way, and thus it is called “holy.” Tisha B’Av as a yom tov, a day of feasting
The secret of the Mishkan is to continue the Har Ramban (Ki Tisa) says the kedusha flows and dancing with all the Jewish people in
Sinai experience in a hidden way.
from Above. G-d created the world with the Beit HaMikdash.
What we experienced at Har Sinai was not lashon haKodesh (Rashi, Bereishit 2:23),
supposed to be a one-time event, but a con- and all prophecy is transmitted in this
tinuous state of Divine Presence residing language. 1 This is why, Ramban explains, we do not need to
amongst us. Rambam (Hilchot Beit HaBe- apply the rule of ה ָרֹו ּ ת ַּ ב ר ָח ֻא ְמּו ם ָ ּ ד ְק ֻמ ןי ֵא for Parashat Ter-
1
umah. The Mishkan was not purely an antidote for the
chira 1:1) on the other hand, has a very Taking a step back, we can see that Ramban chet ha’egel, found later in Parashat Ki Tisa, but rather
different description of the Mikdash: views all kedusha as coming from Above. a natural progression from Har Sinai, found directly
The Mikdash is a place where He resides, beforehand in Parashat Mishpatim.
ׂ
ׂ
ֹו ּ ב םי ִבי ִר ְק ַמ תֹוי ְה ִל ן ָכּומ ’ה ַל תִי ַּ ב תֹוש ֲע ַל ה ֵש ֲע ת ַו ְצ ִמ continuing the Sinai experience when He
ֹ
ר ַמ ֱא ֶּנ ֶ ׁש ה ָנ ָ ׁש ְּ ב םי ִמ ָע ְּ פ ׁשל ָ ׁש וי ָל ֵא ןי ִג ְגֹוח ְו ,תֹונ ָּ ב ְר ָּ ק ַה descended upon the mountain. Rambam
ׂ
. ׁש ָ ּ ד ְק ִמ י ִל ּוש ָע ְו believes that sanctity starts with us. We
The Mikdash is a place for Jews to bring gather to bring korbanot, we gather on our
their sacrifices and to gather together to Festivals to bask in His presence. We speak Rabbi Shalom Rosner is a Rebbe at
celebrate their holidays. The Rambam in a refined manner, thus imbuing the Yeshivat Kerem b’Yavneh and Rav of the
mentions nothing about Har Sinai, just language with sanctity. The two Yerusha- Nofei HaShemesh community.
about our involvement in service of G-d. layims, the one above and the one below,
What is at the root of these different unite into a religious rendezvous between A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
descriptions? man and G-d. The only disagreement is mizrachi.org/speakers

| 35