Vayeitzei 5786 - The Foundation Stone and the Future of the Jewish People

At the heart of the Jewish nation lies a rock.

It was not always that way. Originally, the center point of our nation - the inner sanctum (kodesh hakadashim) of the bait hamikdash (temple) contained the Holy Ark that held within it the luchot and the Torah that had been written by Moshe. The Jewish people were a nation defined by G-d and Torah. That came to an end when the aron hakodesh was hidden away in anticipation of the Babylonian conquerors entering and destroying the bait hamikdash. During the period of the second bait hamikdash, that ark remained hidden and what lay in its place was a rock that was known as the even shetiya, the foundation stone of the world (see Yoma 53b).

How did a rock come to replace the Torah as the heart of the Jewish nation?

The period of the first bait hamikdash represented our ideal state, with Torah at its center and the tangible presence of G-d in our midst. This was lost as we slipped into behaviors that violated the Torah, including immorality, murder, and idolatry (see Yoma 9b and 21b). During the period of the second bait hamikdash, Hashem’s presence was less pronounced such that the dominant role of the mikdash was as the unifier of the Jewish nation rather than as the residence of G-d. It is for this reason, explained Maharal (Netzach Yisrael ch. 4) that what led to the building of the second temple was the unity of the Jewish people generated by the Purim story and what destroyed it was the disintegration of that unity via sinat chinam, vain hatred and divisiveness.

That unity is symbolized by the rock. Midrash (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer ch. 35) notes that this was the rock that Yaakov designated at the outset of our Parsha as the future house of G-d, and it tells us as well that what ultimately appeared as a single rock had originally been twelve separate stones (Bereishit Rabba 68:11).

Rabbi Yehuda said: He took twelve stones. The Holy One blessed be He had decreed that He would produce twelve tribes. Yaacov said: ‘Avraham did not produce them and Yitzchak did not produce them. If these twelve stones join with one another, I know that I will produce twelve tribes.’ When the twelve stones joined together one to another, he knew that he would produce twelve tribes.

From its inception, this rock represented the vision of a unified Jewish nation, fusing together individual tribes and groups who could be as hardened in their separateness as rocks but who could transcend their divisions and fuse together into a single nation. That unity is not a slogan but the foundation of our being and the core and essence of what defines us until we mature further and restore G-d and His word to their rightful place as the core of our national identity. As Rav Yitzchak Hutner taught, the words Shema Yisrael, “Hear O Israel”, are not just an introduction but an essential part of the Jew’s declaration of faith: our connection to G-d is built on our connection to each other (Pachad Yitzchak, Chanukah, 13:3).

Klal Yisrael has experienced an awakening of both national unity and spiritual connection. This sense of connection is essential to building Jewish identity across our people, including those close to and distant from Torah and its observance. This sense of connection was stirred by our concern for our brothers and sisters taken hostage and is a reawakening of the feelings experienced during the struggle for Soviet Jewry, an entire segment of our people held captive. Then as now, Jews close to and distant from Torah awakened their feelings of national connection.

We pray that then as now our genuine tears of connection will be transformed into joy.

Shir Hama’alos. When Hashem brought back the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then they said among the nations, Hashem has done great things for them. Hashem has done great things for us; we are joyous. Bring back our captivity, Hashem, like the streams in the Negev. They who plant in tears shall reap in joy. He who goes weeping on his way, bearing a bag of seed, shall come back with a joyful shout, carrying his sheaves.