13^th of Tishrei, October 12, 2008

The psalmist says of Hashem’s Throne: "Your Throne stands firm as of old; you exist eternally (Psalm 93:2)."  Hashem’s throne is firmly entrenched. No temporal thing attaches to it.  The Midrash teaches that Jacob’s image was engraved on Hashem’s Throne.  Why his image, and not that of Abraham or Isaac?  Rav Soloveitchik explains that Jacob, more than Abraham or Isaac, represents the Jewish nation.  The Jewish people are in fact identified as his; we are the Bnei Yisrael- the children of Israel (Jacob’s name after he had fought with the angel). Therefore, Jacob’s image engraved on G-D’s Throne demonstrates the permanency of the brit, the covenant, between Hashem and the children of Israel.  It is not a covenant that terminates with our exile nor is it suspended by our sins.  It is an eternal covenant, which ensures our continued survival as the Jewish people.

Copyright, 2008 Rachel Lerner