More on Building Yerushalayim, Malchut Beit David and Malchut H-shem

From today's Hakhel email:
Special Note Two: We continue with our focus on the Fourteenth Bracha of Shemone Esrei--Binyan Yerushalayim. Chazal (Bereishis Rabba 59:8) teach “Yerushalayim Oro Shel Olam U’Mi Hu Oro Shel Yerushalayim--Hakasdosh Baruch Hu--Yerushalayim is the light of the world and Hashem Himself is the light of Yerushalayim.” When reciting the bracha of Binyan Yerushalayim we should perhaps envision a great light--which is not only the light of Yerushalayim--but that, keveyachol, of Hashem Himself! Envision the great and infinite shine! If we are not such great ‘visionaries’, we can remember the words of the Avos to Rebbe Nosson that ‘Yerushalayim Nikreis Chaim--Yerushalayim is called life itself!’ With this in mind, we move to the last portion of the Bracha, which at first glance may seem out of place. After davening for the return of the Shechina and for Yerushalayim’s rebuilding, we ask that Kisei Dovid Meheirah Lesocah Tachin--that the throne of Dovid HaMelech should be speedily reestablished there. One would think that these words would be found in the next bracha of Es Tzemach Dovid--which refers to the reestablishment of the Malchus Bais Dovid. The Bach ( to Tur Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 118) records that he was actually asked this Shailah and explains that the re-establishment of Dovid’s throne is very much part of the Bracha over Yerushalayim. In fact, these words are and should be the concluding words of the Bracha--because Yerushalayim’s rebuilding would be incomplete without the Moshiach and the Malchus Bais Dovid reestablished. We are not looking for our own capital city, or even an international capital of the world. We are looking for the City of Hashem to be the place from which the Malchus Bais Dovid brings, maintains, and propagates the Malchus Hashem on His Nation, and on the world. Yerushalayim will not be a physical city of skyscrapers, housing tens of millions, but will be the seat of Ruchniyus given to us by Hashem, as transmitted by the Malchus Bais Dovid. In a very positive way we should almost ‘get the chills’ from the wondrous and wonderful message and meaning of this bracha--let us pray that it is filled in its entirety very soon!

Geulah Every Day!

From today's Hakhel email:

Special Note Two: We now reach the Seventh Bracha of Shemone Esrei--Re’eh (Na) Veanyeinu--the bracha of Geulah! HaRav Yonasan Eibeschutz, Z’tl, in the Sefer Ya’aros Devash, provides important guidelines and guidance in this bracha. “In this Bracha, one should daven for Geulas Yisroel--not because we will then be the princes of the land and leaders of mankind, which will in fact be the case, but rather so that we can once and for all finally attain Shlaimus and bring an end to Chillul Hashem--as it is permanently replaced with Kiddush Hashem--and this is what we mean by U’Ge’alainu Meheira LeMa’an Shemecha. We should also have in mind that even if we are not worthy of being saved--Hashem can act through his Great Mercy by miracle--outside of and beyond teva-- to redeem us even if we are undeserving--and this is the essence of Ki Go’el Chazak Atta.” HaRav Eibeschutz concludes that even if one did not see the Ultimate Geulah today, he must recognize and appreciate that EVERY DAY we are redeemed from enemies--some more overt, some less overt, who seek to harm, hurt and destroy us in any way they can devise--and Hashem saves us from their designs. This is why the bracha concludes in the present tense--Go’el Yisroel--because we truly experience Geulah every day--and should show our appreciation to Hashem for it. Indeed, it may very well be that if we properly recognize Hashem’s great graciousness to us in our daily Geulos--we can be zoche Middah KeNegged Middah to the great and final Ge’ulah--speedily and in OUR day!

More About Davening, Pronunciation and Yerushalayim shel Maalah

From Today's Hakhel Email:

Special Note One: Two other points on VeLirushalayim, Bishuasecha and Lishuasecha:

1. One reader pointed out that it cannot be coincidence (as we know, it never is!) that the words we have to be careful with in Shemone Esrei relate to Yerushalayim and our Yeshua. It is like asking the King for a special request and being very careful that you are clearly understood. Could you imagine slurring the words or not being careful with the wording of your appeal? If you are not so concerned with the essential request...maybe the King shouldn’t be either....On the other hand, if your stretched out hand is matched by a careful and pleading voice--the King will surely recognize your urgency and sincerity--and we will all be the better for it!

2. A reader explained in the name of HaRav Shlomo HaKohen of Vilna that the VeLirushalayim Ircha in the bracha refers to the Yerushalayim Shel Ma’alah. At the time of the destruction, the people thought that, through their suffering and their Teshuva, Yerushalayim would quickly be rebuilt. However, when they learned that the Yerushalayim Shel Ma’aleh was no longer above its counterpart below--they were no longer mechuven zeh kneged zeh--the devastating calamity was apparent-and everyone began to mourn. Accordingly, with the words VeLirushalayim Ircha--And Yerushalayim Your City--we are not merely asking for our city below, but rather that Your City, the city above, is reestablished so that the Heavens and Earth can once again unite--at the Makom HaMikdash. No one on Earth can fulfill this request--but we are pleading to the All-Knowing, All-Capable, and All-Merciful King of the Universe--Who wants to return to the City, both above and below, and see the world fulfill its purpose--that is why our plea is so essential!
Additional Note: Our reader who pointed out the proper pronunciations asked us to clarify pronunciation of *Vayire’u* Es Hashem that we described yesterday with the following corrected words: “It should be Va.Yee.R.u. four syllables with the chirik as a chiruk gadol. VaYire’U, as you wrote, makes it sound like three syllables with the chirik as a chiruk katan.” Hakhel Response: Thank you, dear reader. It is because of you that we all have a better appreciation of the word “careful”--we are full of care--over that which we care about!