Parsha: Pinchas (2024)
This week the Jewish world has begun a global time of mourning, we call it, “The 3 weeks.” This is when we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple and our launch into a still-ongoing exile.
The period begins on the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, a fast day that marks the day when the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans in 69 CE.
While we focus on the loss and destruction of the holy Temple, we can also learn from its significance and lessons that can be applied to our daily lives.
Pirkie Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) lists ten miracles that occurred in Holy Temple when it stood in its glory in Jerusalem. Those miracles became moments of immense inspiration to the visitors who came to the Beit Hamikdosh.
One of the ten miracles was a miracle connected to the comfortable space that each visitor enjoyed.
The Mishnah reads as follows: “The visitors at the Temple would stand crowded together but when they would bow there was ample space.”
עומדים צפופים ומשתחוים רווחים,
What does this mean and what lesson can we learn?
In a literal sense it means, that when all the Jewish people stood together and prayed, it felt crowded. But when they bowed, all of a sudden there was space.
Quite a miracle!
It’s counter intuitive. If there was no space when they were standing, there definitely would be no room at all to bow. Indeed this miracle was astonishing to witness.
Yet the lesson from this miracle is no less inspiring. Many times in life we are asked to compromise or give space for another. At times we are asked to share our money, possessions or time with others.
We may find ourselves saying: “But there is not enough “space” (funds, possessions, time,) while I’m just “standing alone!” How can I bow (share and comprise)!?“
And indeed we find that when we “bow” we actually find that there is MORE room than before. The giving, comprising and the sharing allows us to live with more space and comfortability. Indeed there was enough room for everyone all along. We just needed to “bow” (humility) to discover it.
The sages teach us that we were sent into the current exile due to lack of love for our fellow. Let’s take this time of year and fill it with acts of love and giving. For when we bow, there is “ample room.”
We pray that these days of mourning will become days of joy with the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdosh. May it happen speedily in our days!
Rabbi Zalman and Esty
The period begins on the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, a fast day that marks the day when the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans in 69 CE.
While we focus on the loss and destruction of the holy Temple, we can also learn from its significance and lessons that can be applied to our daily lives.
Pirkie Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) lists ten miracles that occurred in Holy Temple when it stood in its glory in Jerusalem. Those miracles became moments of immense inspiration to the visitors who came to the Beit Hamikdosh.
One of the ten miracles was a miracle connected to the comfortable space that each visitor enjoyed.
The Mishnah reads as follows: “The visitors at the Temple would stand crowded together but when they would bow there was ample space.”
עומדים צפופים ומשתחוים רווחים,
What does this mean and what lesson can we learn?
In a literal sense it means, that when all the Jewish people stood together and prayed, it felt crowded. But when they bowed, all of a sudden there was space.
Quite a miracle!
It’s counter intuitive. If there was no space when they were standing, there definitely would be no room at all to bow. Indeed this miracle was astonishing to witness.
Yet the lesson from this miracle is no less inspiring. Many times in life we are asked to compromise or give space for another. At times we are asked to share our money, possessions or time with others.
We may find ourselves saying: “But there is not enough “space” (funds, possessions, time,) while I’m just “standing alone!” How can I bow (share and comprise)!?“
And indeed we find that when we “bow” we actually find that there is MORE room than before. The giving, comprising and the sharing allows us to live with more space and comfortability. Indeed there was enough room for everyone all along. We just needed to “bow” (humility) to discover it.
The sages teach us that we were sent into the current exile due to lack of love for our fellow. Let’s take this time of year and fill it with acts of love and giving. For when we bow, there is “ample room.”
We pray that these days of mourning will become days of joy with the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdosh. May it happen speedily in our days!
Rabbi Zalman and Esty