ב״ה״נ״ו״א
In trying to understand what it means to have a Yerushalayim built, and how we can apply now to our lives; I thought it would be helpful to start at Har Hamoriah since Chazal says that it is Yerushalayim.
There is a fascinating phenomena when it comes to Har Hamoriah. We see examples of this place presenting realities not bound by time or space.
For example; by the Akeida, which occurred on Har Hamoria, the Medrash Tanchuma describes Hashem creating a Mountain for His Shechina to dwell from what was a valley. The physical change of space seemed to occur without a time delay. Similarly, Rashi describes a similar phenomena later on by Yaakov Avinu when having the dream with the ladder in a place he called Bais E-l, “אֲנִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁנֶּעֱקַר הַר הַמּוֹרִיָה וּבָא לְכָאן- I say that Mount Moriah was forcibly removed from its locality and came hither” (Beraishis, 28:17). He indicates that earth literally shrunk, moving so to speak to meet Yaakov. For now I thought to begin with the Akeida first; and biezras Hashem continue with the next one after there can be better understanding of the Har Hamoria and the Akeida significance to Yerushalayim.
וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחוֹק- (Beraishis, 22:24)
And he [Avraham] saw the place from afar off. How was he able to see the place from afar off? This verse teaches us that the place was a valley at the time. However, when the Holy One, blessed be He, decided to make His Shechinah hover over it and to make it the site of the Temple, He said, that it is not fitting for a king to dwell in a valley, but rather in a lofty and beautiful place, visible to every eye. Thereupon, the Holy One, blessed be He, called upon the hills in the surrounding area to come together in order to make a fitting abode for the Shechinah. Hence, the mountain is called Moriah, for it was fashioned out of reverence (yirah) for the Holy One, blessed be He.”
This raises many questions for me, and I ask the following:
Q: Could Hashem not have figured this out before creating the world?
Q: What triggered this conversation described by the Medrash Tanchuma, having Hashem change a valley into a mountain?
Q: What about Yerushalayim are we meant to learn when we see this change of nature occur?
Q: What is the significance of transforming a valley into a mountain?
Q: is there a connection in the formation of a mountain to the conversation Chazal say happened between Avraham Avinu and the Satan
Q: What exact act of Yirah for Hashem precipitated this expression of Har Hamoria? (Hence, the mountain is called Moriah, for it was fashioned out of reverence (yirah) for the Holy One, blessed be He)
Q: This event occurred before the Akeida and there is already an introduction to reverence (yirah) for the Holy One, blessed be He. Was this the Yiras Hashem referred to later through the Malach?
Q: Does the act of “וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחוֹק” have anything to do with the creation of Yerushalayim?
Q: If we do the act of וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחוֹק, can we actually be creators of Yerushalayim?
Q: Is there something about Yiras Hashem that allows the rules of nature to transform, and therefore time and space has no boundaries? “שֶׁמִּיִּרְאָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ נַעֲשָׂה הָר”, for it was fashioned out of yirah for The Holy One Blessed is He”.
Q: What happened here that triggered Hakadosh Baruch to say He needed a place for His Shechina?
Q: What is the Yiras Hashem?
Q: If it is Yiras Hashem, why? Is it the “choice of Tov” that creates Shechina? Is it that moment that a real relationship occurs?
Q: Does Hashem really need a high mountain to have His Shechina reside? Did He not choose the lowest Moment for the Kivod Hashem His Honored Presence to be revealed at Har Sinai?
Q: Why Did Hashem give Torah at Har Sinai, a low mountain and yet chose Torah to come forth from Tzion, Har Hamoriah, a high mountain (Yerushalayim)?
Q: If we study the Akeida will we find the properties of Yerushalayim?
Q: Is It not a Yerushalayim concept when Avraham and Yitzchak walk together as “Yachdav”?
Q: Would it not be important to study the Akeida and all the ingredients of that which Avraham and Yitzchak placed there in order to get some insight into building Yerushalayim?
Q: How can we make a dwelling place befitting Hashem? What about this conversion of what is befitting the Shechina of Hashem are we to learn in terms of making a place that is befitting Him?
“May we all be Zoche to build Yerushalyim befitting Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s Shechina B’mhaira B’yameinu Amein”
hindy
Michal
intomeaning
Neil Wernick