Communicated: TefillaChillul Tefila Bifarhesia, as well as halachicly challenged verbiage and dress, are external manifestations of a critical lack of personal yiras shomayim which has lethal consequences.
tell a friendHashem says, “The land is Mine. You are sojourners and residents with Me.”
The Sefira count is seven times seven. Seven is a complete week. In the Torah world, the week begins on Sunday, and we count upward toward Shabbos – Yom Rishon, Yom Sheini and so on – because Shabbos gives meaning to our life. Our entire weekday existence is in order to prepare for the kedushah of Shabbos. But the quality of our Shabbos depends on us. It is a gift from Above, but the question is: How will we use that gift? Do we understand its greatness? Do we value the ability to rise above this world and enter the world of Hashem’s Existence?
Seven times seven is the culmination of our efforts in this world. But perhaps we need more. To open the doors to Hashem’s world requires effort beyond our abilities. As we say during Maariv, “Hashem has redeemed Jacob and delivered him from a power mightier than he.”
That is the fiftieth step, the Yovel, in which all property returns to its original owner. That is Shavuos, on which Hashem gives us the Torah and lifts us above this world forever. In other words, God can – and will, it seems – “set the clock back to zero.” He will, if we follow His plan, take us back to a perfect world, even recreate the totally pristine Garden of Eden before the sin, if we will accept His Torah with all our hearts.
I saw a fascinating recent commentary from a contemporary gadol in Yerushalayim on this subject: “Connecting to [the transcendent life to which Torah brings us] is our mission during Sefira. Sefira brings us to the fiftieth day and all of Sefira is positioned to bring us from the limited, from the realm of seven weeks to the fiftieth day. The entire Sefira is oriented toward our escaping ‘midda’ (measure) whose gematria (numerical value) is forty-nine and arriving at ‘yam’ (sea) equaling fifty (in gematria).” (The sea, this gadol explains, is by nature boundless and represents Torah, which is infinite.)
In the darkness of this contemporary world, the voice of God is speaking to us, and He is saying: “Stay with Me through the darkness of Exile. Don’t be afraid! In the morning, I will search for your redeemer, your own merits and good deeds. If they are sufficient to redeem you, well and good. But if not, do not fear. I Myself will redeem you!”
The Morning is coming soon, and it will herald a Day whose light lasts forever, emanating from the Holy Temple shining on Har haBayis. All of us who love Hashem and His Torah will be there to see it.
tell a friendAbout the Author: Roy Neuberger's latest book, “2020 Vision” (Feldheim), is available in English, Hebrew and Spanish, with French and Russian editions in preparation. Roy is also the author of "From Central Park to Sinai: How I Found My Jewish Soul” (available in English, Hebrew and Rus-sian) and "Worldstorm.” Roy and his wife speak publicly on topics related to his books and articles. He can be contacted at roy@tosinai.com or through his websites www.tosinai.com and www.2020visionthebook.com.
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