HaRav Yechezkel Levenstein, Z’tl, compared the arrival
of Moshiach to a great, but local, wedding to be held in a small town.
All those who live in town are naturally invited, because they all know
the Choson and Kallah. However, those coming from out of town would
only be relatives or close friends-and they would come only by
invitation.
Many of us today do, and must, empathize with the plight of our
brethren in Eretz Yisroel during these turbulent times. We must
remember, though, that they are already currently “in town” and when
the great wedding day comes soon, we will have to be invited, and they
will not!
So what can we do to get ourselves invited? Chazal (Yoma 57A), relate
that a non-believer remarked to Rebbe Chanina that, after the
destruction of the Bais HaMikdash, all Jews are certainly tamei
(impure), as the posuk in Eicha (1:9) states “Tumasa bishuleha”--her
impurity is on her hems. Rebbe Chanina responded to him that even with
this impurity, the Shechina, Hashem’s Divine Presence, is with us, as
the Posuk (Vayikra 16:16) states that Hashem is “Hashochen
Itam”--dwells with them” amid their contamination. It is interesting
that the word “shachen,” neighbor or one who resides close by, is
closely related to the word Shechina, for it symbolizes how close we
should feel to the Shechina. Indeed, Chazal (Yoma 53B) teach, and the
Halacha records that, at the end of Shemone Esrei, one should bow while
taking three steps back, then additionally bow to his left, bow to his
right and then bow to the center, as he recognizes that he is taking
leave of the Shechina in front of him. The Gemara comments there that
Hashem will destroy a thousand of his enemies to the left and ten
thousand to his right (see Tehillim Chapter 91), as he recognizes and
takes proper leave of the Divine Presence.
We all know that the Shechina has never left the Kosel HaMaaravi. We
also all know that there is a special, different level of Shechina in
our shuls. It is imperative for us to also realize that the Shechina
is always with us--even in our current status of Tuma--whoever we are,
and wherever we may go.
Every day, three times a day in Shemone Esrei we state that Hashem is a
“Melech Ozer, U’mosheia, U’mogen.” This means that even though Hashem
is King of the entire world, He is still an ‘Ozer’--He helps each and
every individual with his needs, a ‘Mosheia’--He saves each and every
person from tzara, and a ‘Mogen’--He even shields a person before a
tzara comes. This is an intense appreciation of the Shechina relating
to us directly, which should charge us at least until we recite our
next Shemone Esrei.
Over the next seven weeks, until Rosh Hashanah, we should work on
feeling Hashem’s Presence with us throughout the day, once again,
whoever we are and wherever we may be. We should especially sense that
we are standing in front of Hashem during Shemone Esrei, and remind
ourselves of His presence, as a Shachen, in front of us, throughout the
day. If we feel a strong relationship, a closeness to Hashem, then
even we--as “out of towners” will also be invited to that great Chasuna
to take place--as the Shechina once again, resides in its full and
permanent glory in the third and final Bais HaMikdosh, may it be built
speedily and in our days.
Important Numbers
