This #pillowsonEichah is from Eichah 1:6 The verse reads, "And gone is from the daughter of Zion all her splendor; her princes were like harts who did not find pasture and they departed without strength before [their] pursuer." What is the splendor of the “daughter of Zion?” Rav Saadia Gaon explains that it refers to the wise scholars as in the posuk, “You shall respect the scholars.” (Vayikra 19:32), the word hadar is used both in our verse in Eichah and in Vayikra to explain we should respect scholars. We respect scholars by, “Not sitting in their place, speaking when it is the scholar’s turn to to speak, or contradicting the scholars.” (Rashi to Vayikra 19:32) Using the same word to express the splendor of Zion and the command to actively respect the scholarly shows that Yerushalayim’s splendor is active as well. Yerushalayim’s splendor is not innate, but rather is dependant on our treatment of Yerushalayim. Without the Temple, its offerings and other commands, the splendor of Yerushalayim is greatly diminished. Our Sages in the Medrash take an unconventional approach to explaining what the “Splendor of Zion” is. They explain the splendor as referring to the little children. The Medrash exclaims, “How cherished are little children to God? The Sanhedrin was exiled and God continued to manifest Himself in Yerushalayim, God exiled the rotations of Jews serving in the Temple, and God continued to manifest Himself in Yerushalayim, but when the children where exiled, God stopped manifesting Himself in Yerushalayim. The Medrash is expressing an important point. Children play a crucial role in the purpose of the Jewish people. Our people are to be a “light unto the nations.” The light of moral modeling we are to show the rest of the world is not static, it is to act as an eternal light. Necessary to this goal is the tradition carrying on to further generations. Ensuring children continue our traditions takes precedence over everything, including building the Temple. Although, “Everyone is obligated to build and to assist both personally and financially in the construction of the Temple, Nevertheless children are not to be interrupted from their Torah studies to build the Temple.” (Maimonides, Hilchot Beit Habechirah 1:12) Without children studying Torah, there is no purpose to God manifesting Himself, and therefore He ceases manifesting Himself when the children of Yerushalayim are exiled.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 16:33:20 +0000
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