 Yom Yerushalyim (cont...) (BACK
TO NEWSLETTER) "All
the nations of the world recognize the importance
of Yerushalyim and have fought bitter wars to proclaim
their control. Yerushalyim, however, is a city
which is uniquely Jewish and was designated for
Klal Yisroel from the very beginning. The Beis
Hamikdash itself is built on the site of the Akeida," said
Rav Kook.
Rav Kook also spoke about the tremendous need
for achdus during these trying times. He referred
to the difficulties we face with the coming implementation
of the disengagement plan and expressed his sentiments
in support of the residents of Gush Katif.
Rav Kook mentioned that he has had the pleasure
of hosting a number of Rambam alumni learning in
Eretz Yisroel over the years and invited this year's
graduates to spend a special shabbos with him in
Rechovot.
Rabbi Friedman introduced the Rosh Yeshiva of
Yeshivot Kerem B'Yavne, Rav Mordechai
Greenberg,
by painting a background of the events that lead
up to the Six Day War and the capture of Yerushalyim.
"If one listened to the media at the time,
one would be convinced that another Holocaust was
pending. The Arabs who vastly outnumbered the Jews
had massed on the borders of Israel and vowed to
annihilate us and throw us into the sea. We must
be thankful to Hashem for enabling us to emerge
victorious, vanquishing our enemies and capturing
Yerushalyim."
Rav Mordechai Greenberg presented an additional
perspective to the talmidim. He spoke of the proximity
of Yom Yerushalyim to Yom Ha'atzmaut suggesting
that one complements the other. He drew on the
medrash which explains Hashem's promise to Klal
Israel that if they follow the Torah, He will provide
them with security and kommiyut as meaning akin
to the two heights of Adam HaRishon.
"This," said Rabbi Greenberg, "applies
to two levels of perfection applicable to Mankind – physical
perfection and spiritual perfection. Just as man
must utilize his physical well-being in the service
of Hashem to achieve his true purpose, so, too,
must a political entity such as the State of Israel
be inseparable from its spiritual purpose. The
Torah does not believe in the separation of religion
and state."
"Yerushalyim," he continued, "is
a spiritual center of Eretz Yisroel. Its liberation
and return to Jewish hands in 1967 is something
that affects us all and something we must thank
Hashem for. A country without a spiritual foundation
is sorely lacking." He urged the talmidim
to implement this message of using the physical
well-being and bounty we enjoy for avodas Hashem
in our daily lives.
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