Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Eyes on the prize

The Rabbis taught: a blind person or anyone who cannot determine directions should direct his heart to our Father in Heaven...
...All of Israel find themselves directing their heart towards one place. Rav Avin - some say Rav Avina - said: "What verse alludes to this? '
Your neck is like the Tower of David, built with turrets (talpiyot, in Hebrew)' (Shir haShirim 4:4)" [Talpiyot] - The hill (tel)  to which all mouths (piyot) turn. - (TB Berachot 30a)

The ultimate intention is the directing of one's heart toward his Father in Heaven, to be close to His will. However, there are many long paths that we must traverse as preliminaries to completing the will of our Father in Heaven, and the true completion can be achieved when Man can keep this goal in mind and expand his thoughts and actions to accommodate this. This is why we our taught to direct our thoughts towards the Land of Israel and the Beis HaMikdash, for the feelings of [spiritual] nationalism of Israel prepare the heart for divine service and elevate the mind to recognize the value of the commandments of the Torah and perform them with love...

All nationalism in the world draws the masses only in their dwelling, due to the physical outcome and immediate implications for those who strengthen [their national identity]. But the tie that binds the souls of Israel to the house of the God of Jacob is not the result of a mundane "hope", but rather toward the outcome of the light (joy) of completion that results from Israel's gathering and growing together in the Holy Land. Thus, even in its destruction, Israel's eyes are turned towards it, for the Divine Presence never departs from the Kotel haMa'aravi; even in its desolation, its holiness remains and its spiritual value is never diminished...

Adapted from Ein AYaH, (4:55-56)

No comments: