by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com
55 years ago, something remarkable happened. It happened for the very first time in nearly two millennium. What was it?
*****If anyone can help sponsor a Bar Mitzvah for a child whose parents have no resources – please contact the author at [email protected]
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The Kosel and Har Habayis came back under Jewish control.
Yerushalayim. 1967 was very special. The people of Eretz Yisroel defended her against attackers that wished to annihilate her at every border. It is special not because we captured the eastern half of yerushalayim. But because Hashem gave her back to use and freed her.
It is a very essential difference.
That reunification was the culmination of the tefilos of our bubbies and zeidies for two thousand years – something that our ancestors could only dream of. For the previous 19 years before 1867, we American Jews could only access the Kosel as Americans, flying to Amman, Jordan, on an American passport. After 1967, we could visit the Kosel once again through Eretz Yisroel. And the Jews of Eretz Yisroel could not visit at all.
Yerushalayim was once as remote as the stars in the sky to the victims of the Crusades. To the victims of Rindfleish massacres, and to the victims of the Chmelnieki Massacres of tach vetat. Indeed, even to the victims of the pogroms of Europe and to the victims of Auschwitz and Treblinka, she was unimaginable.
But now, we have her and we must feel that sense of hakaras hatov to Hashem yisarach that seems, of late, to be a bit lacking.
We must continuously fulfill the words of the navi Yishayahu (62:1), “Lemaan tzion lo echesheh, ulemaan yerushalayim lo eshkot!”
MASHIV HARUACH
Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l used to say that we must all focus on the fact that when Chazal enacted the addition of, “Mashiv haruach omorid hagashem” they did it to correlate with the weather of Eretz Yisroel instead of the individual patterns in all of the far flung places in which Klal Yisroel ended up. They did so in order that we would always remember her.
Imagine a farmer in a far off land. He needs rain. He adds it in his prayers, but not for the location where he is located. The prayer for rain is for the needs of Eretz Yisroel! Why? So that Eretz Yisroel and Yerushalayim will never be forgotten.
DOVID HAMELECH
Dovid HaMelech said it best in Tehillim (137:5-6):
“If I forget you, O Yerushalayim, let me forget my right hand.
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you.
If I do not set Yerushalayim at my highest aspirations of joy.”
In these words, Dovid HaMelech is pointing out the two tell-tale signs of a stroke. He is essentially saying that he should have a stroke if he does not remember Yerushalayim.
The world should dare not tell us to forget Yerushalayim in light of these words of King David. The Bible tells us that G-d has said, “Yerushalayim is the city where I have chosen to place My Name (Kings I 11:36).” Indeed, Yerushalayim is mentioned throughout TaNaCh some 650 times and not once, l’havdil in the Koran.
SYNONYMOUS WITH THE JEWISH PEOPLE
Indeed, Yerushalayim is actually synonymous with Klal Yisroel.
The holy Navi Yishayahu says, “Be comforted, be comforted, My people – Nachamu Nachamu Ami (Yishayayhu 40:1-2) , speak unto the heart of Yerushalayim – dabru al leiv Yerushalayim.”
Why Yerushalayim?
The answer is because Yerushalayim – all of it – is intrinsically connected with Klal Yisroel. The navi further states, “For Hashem has comforted His people – He has redeemed Yerushalayim (Yishayahu 52:9). And also Yishayahu (65:19), “I will rejoice in Yerushalayim and be glad in My people.”
Europe, the United Nations, BDS supporters – take heed and know that it was always, always ours. Look at Tehillim 102:15, “Her servants desired her stones, her very dust moves them to pity.” We have never, ever, left Yerushalayim, and even when times were difficult, we always pined for her. We pined for her stones, her dust, and her spiritual nurturing.
HOLY SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL
Yerushalayim has been holy to the Jewish people since the dawn of history and before. Where was the binding of Yitzchak? It was on Har haMoriah, in Yerushalayim, the place that Hashem shall choose (See Dvarim 12:5).
The Rambam tells us (Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 6:14) that the sanctification that was made in Israel’s First Commonweath still stands and will stand for all time.
He writes, “the sanctity of the [area of the] Mikdash and of Yerushalayim emanates from the Shechina (Divine Presence) and the Shechina can never be annulled.”
Part of the bible is the book of Esther. It is, in fact, from this book that we read each year in the month of Adar, on a day that we were saved from destruction. Throughout the world, this book is read by Jews on the 14th of the month. But in walled cities – the book is read on the 15th of the month. In Yerushalayim it is also read on the 15th of the month. What is fascinating is that this is not just in the parts of Yerushalayim that were around in Yerushalayim of old. It is the custom to read it on the 15th even in modern, contemporary Yerushalayim.
THE BOMB AT THE MIRRER
There were open miracles in the battle 55 years ago, where enemy forces threatened to annihilate Eretz Yisroel and its people. A bomb landed on the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Miraculously, it did not detonate. And of course, we got the Kosel back.
In Az Yashir we read the reaction of the nations in the aftermath of the exodus from Egypt: “Then the chieftains of Edom were startled; as for the powerful men of Moab, trembling seized them.”
Rav Chaim Shmulevitz, zt’l, notes that this pasuk seems to be revealing some great chiddush or insight. Yet, is it not obvious that when faced with open miracles people are startled and tremble? (Hagaddah of the Roshei Yeshiva of Mir, p. 226)
Rav Chaim Shmulevitz answers that it is not so obvious. It is the nature of people not to change themselves even after seeing open miracles. “This explains why people around us now are not changing after seeing the open miracles of the Six Day War,” adds Rav Shmulevitz. This shmuess was delivered in June, 1967 in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. The Mir experienced an open miracle when a bomb that crashed through the ceiling did not explode.
Reb Dan Waldman, who fought in 1967, recollects the following:
“We had 200 planes. They had three entire air forces. Rabim b’yad me’atim — we had 2.5 million Jews; they had four entire nations. There were numerous miracles.
“There was no feeling like it in the world. I remember soldiers saying that they will not liberate Yerushalayim from Shaar HaAshpa [Dung Gate]; they went in through the Lions’ Gate. Everyone realized that these were open miracles — chareidim in Bnei Brak and even the most secular people.
“Hashem won us this war not in six days but in six hours. There were such nissim. The Jordanians knew that our planes were bombing those of the Egyptians. They sent a message to Egypt. Hashem made it that they changed the codes the previous day and did not inform the Jordanians. This was Yad Hashem. The complete destruction of the Egyptian Air Force in hours. This was Yad Hashem.”
The Temple Mount is the holiest place on earth where Hashem’s Divine Presence was and is still most concentrated. The Kosel is the last remaining wall that surrounds Har HaBayis, the Temple mount and is called the “Wailing Wall” because Jews have gathered before it to cry over the loss of the Temple, the Beis HaMikdash. The day that we got back the Kosel and the eastern half of Jerusalem is known as “Yom Yerushalayim” and is commemorated on the 28th of Iyar each year. It might therefore be beneficial for us to review some aspects and halachos of the Kosel and how we must relate to it now in its current state.
SAVES THE WORLD
Firstly, let us note the significance of the Bais HaMikdash and its ever-relevant enormity in our own times as well. There is a verse in Ovadiah (1:17) that states, “And on the Mountain of Zion shall be the salvation.” The Emek HaMelech (14:134) writes that this verse teaches us that the prayers of the righteous and great people of Yerushalayim at the Western Wall are what saves the world. He writes that their tears and supplications keep the world intact, and were it not for their prayers at this most holy of places the world would be destroyed.
PRESENCE OF SHECHINA
The Midrash tells us (Shmos Rabbah 2:2) that the Shechina, the Divine Presence, has not budged from the Western Wall. The presence of the Shechina, according to the Alshich (VaYikra 25:29), is the surety the promise, that Hashem will ultimately redeem us.
SIGN OF HOPE
These two sources indicate to us a positive, hopeful aspect of the Makom HaMikdash, in our times. It is a place of enormous Kedusha – holiness, and one which brings current salvation to the world now, and the hope and promise of the ultimate future redemption of the Jewish people. This is remarkably inspiring and uplifting.
SADNESS AND PAIN
Yet at the same time, the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash evokes deep feelings of sadness and pain. We rip Kriyah when we see it. It is not just a regular Kriyah but the more serious one that occurs near the heart itself. When we rip Kriyah, the ripping should never be repaired completely.
The destruction should move us. Indeed, the Mishna Brurah (561:4) writes that on the day that a person first sees Yerushalayim in its state of disrepair it is proper and appropriate for that person to refrain from eating meat and drinking wine.
OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN SANCTITY
The fact that we do have sovereignty over the Temple Mount and its regions obligates us in maintaining its sanctity. Technically, gentiles should not be allowed to enter the inner section of the Temple Mount – from the “Chayil” and further in (See Mishna Keilim 1:8 and Tzitz Eliezer 10:1:10 for the contemporary application). Indeed, in 1871, Charles Clermont Ganneau, a French archaeologist and diplomat, found a stone with an inscription in Greek which forbade entry to all gentiles past that point. Thus a travel agent should not promote a tour to Israel for gentiles who will ascend to the inner section of the Temple Mount. Indeed, it is even forbidden for a videography editor to request a gentile to film sections of the Temple Mount because he will stay there longer on account of the request.
WHEN PRAYING THERE
It is important to note that when dealing with the Bais HaMikdash and davening at the Kosel, our focus must on HaKadosh Boruch Hu and not on the physical aspect of the Kosel itself. Indeed, a fascinating point, confirmed by Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, is that when davening at the Kosel one should not face completely toward the Kosel. Rather, one should face left toward the Kodash HaKadoshim.
Another question arises as to whether there exists a Mitzvah to go to Eretz Yisroel during the Shalosh Regalim even in its current state of destruction. The Rambam in Hilchos Chagiga (1:1) states that there is no Mitzvah because the obligation is only to bring a Korban Chagigah and Olah and to appear in the Temple. The opinion of the Tashbatz (Responsa III # 201), however, at least according to the way most achronim understand him, is that there is indeed a Mitzvah of Aliyah l’regel, even nowadays when there is no extant Beis HaMikdash. This is also the view of the Sdei Chemed, the Chasam Sopher (Yevamos 44a), and the Aruch LaNer. The RaN in Taanis (first Mishna) also writes this.
Rav Elyashiv zatzal was careful to observe this Mitzvah and go to the Kosel every Yom Tov. When he got older and could no longer make the walk he would do so during the latter days of the Yom Tov – the 7 days of Tashlumim. [Once, my brother-in-law accompanied him on the way back from the Kosel on Yom Tov].
The fact that we currently have access to the Kosel, thus has remarkable relevance, as we can now fulfill this Mitzvah of the Tashbatz.
The ideal method of performing the Mitzvah, however, is on the first day of the Yom Tov as Rav Elyashiv had observed it. This can be seen from the words of the Rambam in Chagiga 1:1. So, whoever is in Yerushalayim and can make the walk to the Kosel on the first day of the Yom Tov should definitely do so. In non-corona times, if one can afford to go to Eretz Yisroel for Yom Tov from Chutz LaAretz, then one should do so as well.
*****If anyone can help sponsor a Bar Mitzvah for a child whose parents have no resources – please contact the author at [email protected]
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The author can be reached at [email protected]
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9 Responses
If once must choose to group it either in sweet or in sour, where does one place the flavor “sweet & sour”?
In halacha, it would be placed in the category of sour, being that it is a chorif!
“Har habayis b’yadeinu” – is that really true, or is it “byad ha’Waqif” (or let’s just call it Jordan).
Yes, there is sweet but the sour overpowers.
When someone is deathly ill and has a partial recovery, even to the point that he is no longer at risk of death, but alas he is still ill – he doesn’t make a Gomel till he fully recovers.
Yes he is grateful for the partial recovery. Grateful that the “worst is over”, but as long as he is still sick, he is still a choleh.
Yom Yerushalayim is very sweet, but Har Habayis byadenu is sour, and the patient is still sick by permitting (begging) the Jordanian to keep control of Har Habayis.
The Golden DOme is a constant reminder. The choleh is still sick. The flavor is charif. Now is not yet the time for hallel.
יום-ירושלים שמח to everyone
In addition to the point made by the learned author citing the Tahbatz that there is a mitzva to be Oleh LaRegel even without an existing Bais Hamikdash, there is also a greater chiyuv: bringing karbonos in general and especially Korban Pesach!
The Mishnah (Eduyos 8:6) quotes Rabbi Yehoshua as saying, “I heard that we can offer korbanos even though there is no Beis HaMikdash.”
The Gemara (Zevachim 62a) tells us a story that provides us with some background to this statement. “Three prophets returned with the Jews from Bavel (prior to the building of the second Beis HaMikdash), Chaggai, Zecharyah and Malachi, each bringing with him a halachic tradition that would be necessary for the implementation of korbanos. One of them testified about the maximum size of the mizbeiach, one testified about the location of the mizbeiach, and the third testified that we may offer korbanos even when there is no Beis HaMikdash.” Based on these testimonies, the Jews returning to Eretz Yisroel began offering korbanos before the Beis HaMikdash was rebuilt.
Most korbanos cannot be brought when either the owner of the korban or the kohen offering the korban is tamei. However, the Torah decrees that korbanos that are offered on a specific day must be brought, even when every kohen is tamei. Thus, the Korban Pesach, the daily korban tamid, and the special mussaf korbanos that are brought on Shabbos, Yom Tov and Rosh Chodesh may, if necessary, be offered by a kohen who is tamei meis. (Shu”t Chasam Sofer, Yoreh Deah #236).
Indeed, on Erev Pessach, many bnei Torah distant themself from being in proximity to the Har Habayis by leaving Yerushalayim, to avoid transgressing on the positive commandment of mitzvas Korban Pesach!
Bais HaMikdash HaShlishi YVBV”A, Shitas RASHI [Sefer Yechezkel, Chap. 40-43] as explained by the Tosafos Yom Tov in his Sefer “Tzuras HaBayis”:
https://ourspecialmitzvah.org
This “Religious Zionist” idolatrous (as per Rav Elchonon) propaganda is so silly.
“The Kosel and Har Habayis came back under Jewish control.”
Nope. It came under Zionist control or, more accurately, the Kosel, not Har HaBayis, came under Zionist control.
“1967 was very special. The people of Eretz Yisroel defended her against attackers that wished to annihilate her at every border.”
Not exactly. The Zionists who had invaded Eretz Yisrael half a century earlier launched a war against the Arabs because the Zionists knew that militarily, they, the Zionists were far superior to the Arabs, as the CIA notes on their web site.
“It is special not because we captured the eastern half of Yerushalayim.”
“We” did not capture anything. The Zionists did.
“But because Hashem gave her back to use and freed her.”
It wasn’t Hashem “giving it back”, not any more than it was Hashem who allows people to sin in any other way.
“That reunification was the culmination of the tefilos of our bubbies and zeidies for two thousand years ”
This is heresy. It’s also foolishness. The Kosel was actually accessible to Jews up UNTIL the Zionists declared their shmad State in 1948. But clearly, Zionist shmad control over any part of Eretz Yisrael is, of course, not for what our ancestors have prayed.
Finally, despite the author’s fantasy about this war, the CIA notes that the Zionist war in 1967 was rather conventional, and not miraculous.
(There could, possibly, have been individual miracles, like the rocket not exploding at the Mir. Even that incident, though, would not be accurately called a miracle unless the metzius is that 100% of those rockets that crash will explode. Even a 1% chance would make it hashgacha that this rocket was of the 1%, not a miracle.)
But in terms of who would win the war, the CIA was and is very clear that the Zionists (knew quite well) that, in a matter of about a week, the Zionists would be able to rout the Arabs attacking on three fronts.
Enough of this stupidity.
My point is to comment on the learned author’s words: “The fact that we currently have access to the Kosel, thus has remarkable relevance, as we can now fulfill this Mitzvah of the Tashbatz.”
While these words may apply to Sukkos and Shavuos, these words do NOT apply to Pessach, since by coming to the mokom habayis, a person inserts upon himself the chiyuv of preforming the korbon pessach, even bizman hazeh.
HaKatan is simply telling us that the Satmar shita is anti-Zionist and der treif Medina.
That is THEIR shita! But not the shita of mainstream Judaism that accepts hakomas hamedina as a matana from HKBH and the nitzochon of literally rabim b’yad me’atim of the 6 Day War as nisim v’niflaos. (Which afilu other chassidim such as the chachomin and lomdim of Lubavitch are maskim with – that the Six Day War and Rescue atcEntebee etc were nisim gedolim).
Yes, Satmar disagrees. We know that. Tell us something we don’t know.
But if you MUST rehash and retell the shita (after all, mitzva L’saper v’kol hamarbeh haray zeh meshubach), you can certainly stand on your soapbox and shout on the street corner of these comments, but please do so respectfully, because the tzibur of klal Yisroel disagrees.
it is ours, when we feel we are ready, we will take it as it belongs to us Jews…..I would take it NOW
@Hakatan
Seems like your knowledge of history comes from the Empty Wagon. A very neutral and non-biased source to use. Well done.