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TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

Shir HaMaalot: Marveling at Yerushalayim

pon the 15 steps leading up the people. Peace with external enemies the inspiration of the Divine within the
to the beit HaMikdash was depends on inner peace. The foundation Jewish people. The spiritual dimension of
were they Leviim stood and of unity is within Yerushalayim. Indeed, the city of Yerushalayim gives it a unique
sang the15 Shir HaMaalot David HaMelech succeeded in conquering facet, which does not exist in other capital
Uin Tehillim. Chapter 122 Yerushalayim only after uniting all the cities: the deep connection between
of Tehillim, ד ִ ו ָ ד ְ ל תֹול ֲ ע ַּ מ ַ ה רי ִ ׁש, which we people under his kingdom, and as in the Yerushalayim shel mata, “Yerushalayim
customarily read on Yom Yerushalayim, days of David so too today; the conquest of below” and Yerushalayim shel maalah,
speaks of the Holy City, expressing the of Yerushalayim and the unification of “Yerushalayim of above.” The fact that
joy, wonder, and excitement of those the two halves of the city was successful Yerushalayim is the sanctified city is the
going up to Yerushalayim: י ִ ל םי ִ ר ְ מֹא ְּ ב י ִּ ת ְ ח ַ מ ָ ׂש only in the Six Day War, when there was a deep reason why the Jewish people unite
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ך ֵ לֵנ ’ה תי ֵּ ב special unity among the nation. around it: from the belief in one G-d, who
The chapter is written from the point unites all forces, comes the foundation of
of view of a Jew going up to Yerushalayim the unity of all reality, and the unity of the
who is filled with wonder at the sight tribes of Israel.
of the city before him: ּוני ֵ ל ְ ג ַ ר ּוי ָ ה תֹוד ְ מֹע Yerushalayim After the Jew admired the unity and
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הָיּונ ְּ ב ַ ה ם ִַ ל ָ ׁשּורְי …ךִי ַ ר ָ ע ְ ׁש ִּ ב. He marvels at holiness expressed in Yerushalayim, he
the beautiful buildings which glorify is the city the continues to observe and admire another
Yerushalayim and the vastly different represents element expressed in this special city: י ִּ כ
neighborhoods within one great city. ט ָּ פ ְ ׁש ִ מ ְ ל תֹוא ְ ס ִ כ ּוב ְ ׁשָי ה ָּ מ ָ ׁש. David HaMelech
He does not only admire the physical connection to G-d, made Yerushalayim the eternal city,
aspect of the city, but marvels at the within which his holy kingdom is
building of the Jewish people and their justice and unity united. One of the important roles of
unity around Yerushalayim: ה ָ ר ְּ ב ֻ ח ֶ ׁש רי ִ ע ְּ כ the king is to do justice, and therefore,
םי ִ ט ָ ב ְ ׁש ּול ָ ע ם ָ ׁ ּ ש ֶ ׁש ;ו ָ ּ ד ְ חַי ּ ה ָּ ל. Although the Yerushalayim, as the city of the kingdom,
people of Israel are made up of different is supposed to be the city of justice.
tribes and ethnic groups, all have a part The Jew blesses Yerushalayim that G-d’s expectation from the people of
in Yerushalayim. Yerushalayim is on the its inner essence will be expressed, that Israel is not only expressed on the ritual
border between the tribe of Yehudah the city will indeed be ו ָ ּ ד ְ חַי ּ ה ָּ ל ה ָ ר ְּ ב ֻ ח ֶ ׁש, and spiritual level. G-d also expects and
and the tribe of Binyamin, thus uniting “connected together,” uniting all of Israel. demands a high level of moral norms.
all the parts of the nation. A Jew sees all The Jew continues to look at his Yerushalayim is the city that represents
parts of the nation gathering together brethren coming to Yerushalayim, which all of these values: the connection to G-d,
in Yerushalayim, is overcome with deepens his view of the purpose of the justice and unity.
wonder, and blesses Yerushalayim: ּול ֲ א ַ ׁש gathering in Yerushalayim: Yerushalayim Standing at the gates of Yerushalayim
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ה ָ ר ְּ ב ַ ד ֲ א …ה ָ ו ְ ל ַ ׁש ך ֵ לי ֵ ח ְּ ב םֹול ָ ׁש י ִ הְי …ם ָ ל ָ ׁשּורְי םֹול ְ ׁש is the spiritual center for all Jews, (and and seeing at the glory and greatness
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ך ָּ ב םֹול ָ ׁש אָּנ. Shalom and shalva repeat in the future will be a spiritual center of all its aspects – physical, intellectual,
themselves numerous times in these for all nations). David’s choice of social and national – the Jew would sing
verses, and their sound is similar to the Yerushalayim was not accidental, but and bless the city that its inner essence
word “Yerushalayim,” so much so it is because Yerushalayim has an intrinsic will grow and be a blessing for the people
understood that Yerushalayim is thus Divine foundation: the even hashetiya of Israel and the world:
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named because it is the city of peace and from which the whole world was founded !ך ָ ל בֹוט ה ָ ׁש ְ ק ַ ב ֲ א …ך ָּ ב םֹול ָ ׁש אָּנ ה ָ ר ְּ ב ַ ד ֲ א
wholeness. The Jew wishes Yerushalayim is in Yerushalayim and the binding of
peace with its external enemies, and inner Yitzchak took place here. That is why Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach and
peace, between the different parts of Yerushalayim is the most suitable city for is Content Editor for the HaTanakh website.

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