Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum

Director of Tourism, Chevron

Yom Yerushalayim: An Awakening

The following thought are based on the Zohar HaKadosh - Parshat Bamidbar - the parsha which is always read after Yom Yerushalayim “ Rejoice in Yerushalayim, rejoice in Her - all who love Her” (Isaiah 66:10). The Zohar HaKadosh explains ‘ Real joy can only be found when the Jewish Nation is living in their Land’. Only in Israel does the ‘Husband’ and ‘Wife’ unite - and only then is there living complete joy ‘above’ and ‘below’. (The light from above refers to Hashem being the Husband and the light below refers to the Jewish People living in israel being the ‘Wife’).

However, when the Jewish People are distant and no longer living in Israel - it is forbidden to express joy (outwardly) as the verse says in Isaiah - ‘v’gilu bah’ - ‘IN her (only)’. Real rejoicing is only in Yerushalayim with the Jewish Nation returning and residing in the Holy Land.

The Zohar continues to explain in the name of R Eliezer an apparent contradiction: In one verse of Psalms it states “Serve Hashem with joy” (chapter 100) and a second verse says, “Serve the Almighty with fear” (chapter 2). What is the underlying difference between the two? The Zohar answers: ‘When the Jewish Nation is living in the land of Israel they are able to reach the higher level of serving Hashem with joy. However, when the Nation is living outside of the Land of Israel, they can only reach the level of serving Hashem out of fear’.

Baruch Hashem, 53 years ago, on the 20th of Iyar, G-d opened gates for Am Yisrael. Although it took Yehoshua seven years to capture and bring liberation, Tzahal took only six days to return to the biblical borders of Eretz Yisrael. (R Nachman Kahane). The Temple Mount, the Kotel, Kever Rachel, Kever Yosef, Mearat HaMachpela were all brought under Jewish sovereignty. Yerushalayim became ‘k’Ir shechubra lo yachdav’ with the unification of East and West Jerusalem.

Not only was there a great military victory and the liberation of holy sites - a great spiritual awakening took place. R’ Shlomo Carlebach would explain

the words “Ir HaKodesh”: ‘Ir’ meaning ‘city’ but also meaning ‘to wake up’. So Jerusalem is called “Ir HaKodesh”,”the Holy City” but really it means - “the City that wakes up all that is holy within us”. When you come to Yerushalayim one wakes up spiritually! And we are just waiting for Yerushalayim to wake up the whole world again.

Torah became a true holistic healing for a spiritually fatigued people

After the Six Day War we witnessed a great awakening and hunger for spirituality and holiness. The ‘Ba’al Teshuva Movement’ began to flourish with the return to the Kotel. Yeshivot and Seminaries began to blossom in Israel, drawing young students from all over the world to study and connect to their Jewish roots.

Although there has been an endless stream of Torah study throughout our years in the Exile a ‘new Torah’ of Yerushalayim began to emerge. “Ki m’Tzion teitzei Torah u’dvar Hashem m’Yerushalayim”. A Torah of ‘pnimiut’ - soul teachings / ‘nishmat haTorah’ (R Kook). No longer were we learning and serving Hashem on the level of ‘yirah’ (fear) but now a search of ‘mochin d’gadlut’ - and ‘expansive mind and consciousness’ began to flow from the Spring of Salvation. Torah became a true holistic healing for a spiritually fatigued people. ‘M’sos kol Ha’aretz’

Unfortunately, right now we are all limping. We are all so broken from the Corona crisis. However, we pray: ‘Let it be soon iy”h, let the skies to Israel will open up and we will all be able to celebrate with ‘a new song’ , a song of joy and love which will bring the whole world to Yerushalayim.

Let’s tap into the special energy of Yom Yerushalayim and activate all of the hidden treasures and spiritual jewels. With blessings of Simcha l’artzecha v’sasson l’irecha’! (Happiness to Your Land and joy to Your Holy City)

Yom Yerushalayim Sameach

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