Friday, May 07, 2021

saying thanks for what we have so far

 בֹּ֤אוּ שְׁעָרָ֨יו׀ בְּתוֹדָ֗ה חֲצֵרֹתָ֥יו בִּתְהִלָּ֑ה הוֹדוּ־ל֝֗וֹ בָּרְכ֥וּ שְׁמֽוֹ׃

Yom Yerushalayim will soon be upon us, but you wouldn't know it from the Jewish calendar I have at home sent out by a certain organization because the date is not marked at all.  I guess having access to the kosel, having Yerushalayim reunified under Jewish sovereignty derech nes, which is what our victory in the Six Day War was by any and all historical accounts, is not as important as some rebbe's birthday or yahrzeit, which does make it to the calendar.  Go figure.   

"Cherev lo yaavor b'artzechem," says the Chasam Sofer, means that Eretz Yisrael is holier even that Gan Eden, which needs the "lahat ha'cherev ha'mishapeches" to keep out those who don't belong there.  Kal v'chomer the kedusha of Yerushalayim is even greater.  True, we are not at that level yet, but af al pi kein...   

The Malbi"m explains that normally when a person comes before the king, his boss, whoever is in charge, he presents his requests, his demands, his wish list, and only afterwards on the way out he says thank you for what might have been granted.  When we come to Hashem, it's בֹּ֤אוּ שְׁעָרָ֨יו׀ בְּתוֹדָ֗ה , right when we come to the shaar, the gate, right as soon as we step into the doorway, we have to say thank you because he already has granted more than we can ask for or deserve.  Mi hikdimani va'ashalem -- the rewards come even before we earn it.

בֹּ֤אוּ שְׁעָרָ֨יו׀ בְּתוֹדָ֗ה -- we are only on the threshold of something even greater, of complete redemption.  We have only stepped into the doorway.  And yet, does it not behoove us to thank Hashem for what he has given us so far?  

Is perhaps that appreciation the means by which we will ultimately merit חֲצֵרֹתָ֥יו בִּתְהִלָּ֑ה?

1 comment:

  1. I guess you should pick up the free Jewish calendar from apple bank which marks it off and highlights it with a nice drawing

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