Page 11 - HaMizrachi Yom HaAtzmaut AUS 2021

TORAT MIZRACHI

In the Amidah, as well, we say ח ַ מ ֶ צ ת ֶ א of redemption (the second part of the Alumot, sheaves, appear elsewhere in
ְ
ָ
ַ חי ִ מ ְ צ ַ מ ,‘ה ה ָּ ת ַ א ךּור ָּ ב ... ַ חי ִ מ ְ צ ַ ת ה ָ ר ֵ ה ְ מ ך ּ ְ ד ְ ב ַ ע ד ִ ו ּ ָ ד psalm), that the tears be turned to joy. Tanach solely in the context of Yosef’s
ה ָ עּו ׁשְי ן ֶ ר ֶ ק, “Speedily cause the sprout Some of the visions of this psalm did dreams. As a boy, Yosef had dreams

of David, Your servant, to flourish… come to fruition, at least some of the of greatness. But those dreams were
Blessed are You… Who causes the time. However, there was certainly no destroyed by the hatred and animos-
power of salvation to sprout.” impressive breakthrough of redemption ity between the brothers. Eventually
like afikim in the Negev. Nevertheless, though, after many trials and much
Why is Mashiach’s Name a Plant? Jews all over the world continued to say suffering, Yosef’s dreams came true,
but in exile.
At the beginning of the growth process, this psalm in Birkat HaMazon every
we see nothing but dry ground. Only Shabbat and holiday, believing and Now, with the Return to Tzion, we pray
once the plant sprouts do we realize the expecting its vision would be fulfilled to witness the fulfillment of the great
dream of the upright alumot of Knes-
process had already begun earlier. The in its entirety. set Yisrael that will in turn lead to the
new growth begins only after the decay We are almost there. realization of the Divine mission in the
of the previous seed.
With immense gratitude to the world. These sheaves will stand upright
Redemption comes after destruction, Almighty, we have been privileged to through a process of unity, closeness
after tears. The decay of the seed may return to our Land – a much more and connection.
seem like the end of the process, but it is impressive return than that of the We have been blessed with such great
specifically there where growth begins. Second Beit HaMikdash. Then, the abundance in our generation, and we
Am Yisrael will grow to salvation and return was after 70 years. There was continue to pray that “the L-rd shall
greatness only through despair, destruc- hardly any new settlement in the coun- return us.” We continue to pray for
tion and difficulty. try. We have rebuilt after 2,000 years! the success of the State of Israel, that
We returned after many years of for- all the people of Israel will know the
Chazal said (Yerushalmi Berachot) eign rule and yet we have succeeded Name of G-d called upon us, and may
that Israel’s redemption is like ת ֶ לֶּי ַ א in establishing a State, with economic, Hashem bless us in our beloved country
ר ַ ח ַ ׁ ּ ש ַ ה, dawn. Just as the light of dawn scientific and technological prosperity, to continue to make a Kiddush Hashem,
comes slowly and almost unnoticed, and even spiritually, the quantities of further the Redemption, and bring
so too Israel’s salvation – a great light Limmud Torah and observant Jews are Mashiach speedily in our days.
will suddenly burst out of the bleakest much higher than at many times during
darkness. our history.

Indeed, the world, the non-Jewish
Who is This Psalm About? world, sees the greatness of the mira-
The common opinion is that this psalm cle, the magnificent blossoming of the
was about those returning to Israel State of Israel through G-d’s grace. We
during Shivat Tzion. After Cyrus’ dec- see but do not believe: “we were like
laration, the immigrants felt the great dreamers.” The world is in awe: “The Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Rosh Yeshiva of
redemption and were like dreamers. L-rd has done great things for them.” JCT–Machon Lev and Head of Mizrachi’s
Slowly, however, they encountered We are seeing the great Redemption, Educational Advisory Board.
insurmountable difficulties. Indeed, the mighty streams in the Negev, in our A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
almost the entire Second Beit HaMik- own days. mizrachi.org/speakers
dash period was characterized by The psalm ends with the sentence: אֹ ּ ב Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach
challenges and hardships. Hence the וי ָ תֹ ּ מ ֻ ל ֲ א א ֵ ׂשֹנ הָּנ ִ ר ְ ב אֹובָי, “he shall come back and is Content Editor for the HaTanakh
returnees asked for the continuation with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves.” website.

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