Yeshayahu 2:3

From Zion shall come forth“) ”כי מציון תצא תורה ודבר ה' מירושלים“the Torah, and the word of God from Jerusalem”.)

Jerusalem:If These Stones

Could Talk

Points to Ponder:

Q: What does it mean that the word of G-d comes

through Jerusalem?

What is so special about this city?

Points to Ponder:

What does it mean that Hashem’s presence is not

perceived the same way everywhere?

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Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, Nefesh HaChaim, Shaar 3, Ch. 4-6Although God permeates all of time and space equally, we are not able to

perceive His Presence equally in all times and all places.

Devarim 11:12

Israel is a land that the Lord your G-d scrutinizes constantly; the eyes of the Lord your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the

year until the end of the year.

Hashem’s Presence Never Leaves Jerusalem

Midrash Rabbah, Shemot 2:2

Rav Acha said: The Shechinah [presence of God] will never leave the Western Wall, as it is written, “Behold, He stands behind our wall”

(Shir HaShirim/Song of Songs, 2:9).Rambam Hilchot Beit HaBechira 7:14

Jerusalem is referred to as G-d’s “residence” on earth. It is not only the Temple mount in Jerusalem that is holy, but the entire city of

Jerusalem possesses holiness.

Points to Ponder:

What does it mean to you that the presence of God never

leaves Jerusalem?

How can this be understood today when we don’t have

Jerusalem in its full glory (i.e.: No Temple and

Sanhedrin)?

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Rambam Hilchot Bet HaBechira 6:16

The holiness of Jerusalem pertains to G-d’s presence which can never be nullified, even if we don’t have the Temple and Sanhedrin. This is

why we still direct our prayers there.

A Closer Connection to G-d in Jerusalem

Story as told by Rabbi Nachum AmselA non-Jewish tourist who came to the Kotel, looked at it and commented to the Jew next to him, “I have visited China, and their Great Wall is far

more impressive than this.” The Jew then responded and asked, “Maybe so, but did anyone ever kiss the Great Wall of China? For a Jew the Kotel and the City of Jerusalem is much more than a landmark, a tourist site or

even a home. It is part of his body, part of his soul.”

Points to Ponder:

What did the Jew

in the story,

mean when he

said “Jerusalem

is part of a Jew’s

body and soul?”

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Rabbi Chaim Friedlander, Siftei Chaim, Vol. I, p. 422

The Land of Israel is for us a wondrous “instrument” and

means with which to serve God in a perfect way, by means of the

mitzvot that can only be done in the land and [because of] its

special holiness. The perfection that one can achieve in the Land

Bereishit 28:17

Yaakov called Jerusalem “the gate of heaven”

  Alshich on Bereishit 12:1

We see that a Jew who dwells in the land of Israel attaches himself to his true self.  The reason for this is the

air in Israel is holy and leads a person in the proper path for his

Points to Ponder:

We see that the special holiness of Israel emanates from

Jerusalem, with or without the Temple. Why do you

think Hashem made it that way?

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Bava Batra 93b

Residents of Jerusalem would put a special napkin on their door to invite poor people to their house for

dinner. This was meant to ensure that poor people felt that they received their food as welcomed guests,

rather than as a handout.

A City That Teaches Jews How to Act

Bava Metziah 28b

There was a special area in the city called the “Stone of Claims.” Anyone who lost an item went to this place, as did anyone who found a lost object. The

“finder” would stand up on the stone and announce what was found.

Shemot Rabbah 52:5

In order not to create any sadness in Jerusalem, an

accounting station was set up right

outside Jerusalem in order for people to

settle accounts to do so outside Jerusalem,

so that feelings of

Rambam Sefer Hamitzvot

when no Jews will live there

calendar will lose its validity.

Midrash Tehillim 91:7

Anyone who prays in Jerusalem it is as if they are praying directly

before the throne of G-d. Targum Yonatan 25:22

When it was discovered that Rivka could not have children,

Isaac returned to Jerusalem to the place of the Altar (Akeidat

Yitzchak) and there he prayed for a child.

Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Dei’ah 251:3

Supporting the poor from the land of Israel takes precedence to supporting the poor

outside of Israel.

Midrash Sifri Re’eh 64

Two funds were established in Jerusalem. The first type of fund would allow wealthier people to donate unwanted items and poor people to receive those

items as needed. A Second fund was a similar system,

Points to Ponder:

Why do we need Jerusalem to teach us Jewish values?

Why isn’t just having the Torah enough?

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Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan: Jerusalem the Eye of

Universe p 22

G-d knew that if the Jewish people were to be molded into people worthy of fulfilling their

mission they would have

Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch: Bereishit 48:3-4 The Jewish nation is to represent agriculture as well

as commerce, militarism as well as culture and learning. The Jewish people will be a nation of farmers, a nation of businessmen, a nation of soldiers and a nation of science. Thereby, as a

model nation, to establish the truth that the one great personal and national task which God revealed in His Torah is not dependent on any particular kind

of talent or character trait, but that the whole of humanity in all its shades of diversity can equally

A City That Teaches Morality to the World

Melachim I 7:2

Shlomo Hamelech built a balcony called Beit

Ya’ar HaLevanon. It was meant for the non-Jews to overlook the Temple

 Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi: Kuzari 2:16

Jerusalem is supposed to be the place which the entire world looks for

guidance in moral behavior.

Midrash Sifri Re’eh 64

Two funds were established in Jerusalem. The first type of fund would allow wealthier people to donate unwanted items and poor people to receive those

items as needed. A Second fund was a similar system,

Talmud Yerushalmi Chagigah 26a

Jerusalem is a city that unites people and creates peace between all Jews.

Points to Ponder:

We see that Jerusalem was a microcosm for the morality

of the world. Why does Hashem need a city to represent

morality?

Can you think of ways today in, where Jerusalem can

still represent the city of morality?

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Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan: Jerusalem the Eye of

Universe p 22

G-d knew that if the Jewish people were to be molded into people worthy of fulfilling their

mission they would have

Melachim I 7:2

Shlomo Hamelech built a balcony called Beit

Ya’ar HaLevanon. It was meant for the non-Jews to overlook the Temple

Tanchuma Kedoshim 10

Jerusalem was the focus of a process where the Jew would interact with all peoples absorbing all the wisdom of the ancient world, while at the same time

touching every great civilization with the wisdom of the Torah. It was thus taught that Jerusalem is the center of the world.