Perek Shirah - Desert Says

Saturday, February 13, 2016 · Posted in ,

מִדְבָּר אוֹמֵר - Desert Says:

Yeshayahu 35:1

 יְשֻׂשׂוּם מִדְבָּר וְצִיָּה וְתָגֵל עֲרָבָה וְתִפְרַח כַּחֲבַצָּלֶת
yesushoum midbar vetziya vetagel arava vetifrach kachavatzalet
The desert and the wasteland shall rejoice; the wilderness shall exult and blossom like a lily.

Yerushalayim and Tziyon, which were "desert and wasteland" throughout Jewish exile, shall rejoice upon Jewish Redemption - they shall blossom, prosper and flourish.  

Deep in the heart of Yisrael, the seed of Its essence will always remain alive, awaiting the breath of repentance and hope.  redemption would come.  The Torah was given in a wasteland and it gave life to a people.  So, too, the people will give life to the wasteland of Tziyon, and Eretz Yisrael will blossom like a lily.

Perek Shirah - Gehinnom Says

· Posted in ,

גֵּיהִנֹּם אוֹמֵר - Gehinnom Says...

Tehillim 107:9

כִּי-הִשְׂבִּיעַ נֶפֶשׁ שֹׁקֵקָה וְנֶפֶשׁ רְעֵבָה מִלֵּא-טוֹב
ki-hisbia nefesh shokeka venefesh reeva mile-tov
For He has satisfied the longing soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with good.

Concerning thirst the Scripture speaks of "longing," for the craving of the thirsty person for drink is stronger than the craving of the hungry person for food.

Through suffering the soul is filled with praise and thanksgiving to G-d.  The human being receives instruction and becomes complete through suffering.

When man's days on earth are over, his soul longs for the infinite spiritual delights and rewards of the World to Come.  But the years on earth are not free of sin, and sin comes at a price.  There must be atonement.  The blemished soul must be purged and purified in Gehenna before it can be welcomed to the bliss of Paradise above.

Perek Shirah - Gan Eden Says

· Posted in ,

גַן עֵדֶן אוֹמֵר - Gan Eden Says...

Shir HaShirim 4:16

עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן הָפִיחִי גַנִּי יִזְּלוּ בְשָׂמָיו יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ וְיֹאכַל פְּרִי מְגָדָיו
uri tzafon uvoi teiman hafichi gani yizlu vesamav yavo dodi legano veyochal peri megadav
Awake from the north and come from the south!  
Blow upon My garden, let its spices flow.  
Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its precious fruit.

In Talmudic symbolism, the "north wind" represents the human desire for physical pleasure and gratification; the "south wind" represents the soul's longing for spiritual fulfillment.  Man's mission is to sublimate the succulence of the earth's gardens and elevate it to server the highest spiritual calling.  Adam and Chavah were given the Gan Eden, the perfect setting for this task.  They failed and were banished.  But the Garden remains in G-d's plan, and we will yet combine the two winds and enjoy the ultimate aroma and fruit of holiness. (Rabbi Nosson Scherman)

“Let those whose service is in the north (the non-Jews who can offer only an Olah whose slaughter took place only in the north part of the Sanctuary) be removed from their prominence in favor of those whose service is in the south (the Jewish nation who may also offer Shelamim which may be slaughtered
even in the southern part.)” 

This transfer of importance from the nations of the world to the Jewish nation, Rashi points out, refers to the welcoming of the Mashiach as redeemer.

What is the significance of this distinction between Olah and Shelamim?  The Olah represents a total offering of an earthly possession to Heaven, a universal concept which even those without Torah are capable of appreciating. Shelamim, however, comes from the word “Shalom” - peace - because its offering
effects peace between the altar, the Kohanim and the owner who all share in its parts. This sublime concept that even through his eating of sacrificial flesh a man participates in the service of his Creator is limited to the nation whose multitude of Torah commandments trains it to comprehend such a challenge and opportunity.
(Zevachim 116a)

Allegorical reading of Shir HaShirim 4:16 following Rashi:

"Awake from the north and come form the south!  Like the winds let My exiles return to My garden, let their fragrant goodness flow in Yerushalayim.  Let but my Beloved come to His garden and enjoy His precious people."

Allegorically, Yisrael's host nations will be so overwhelmed by the miracles preceding the Redemption that they will bring Jews to Eretz Yisrael. (Yeshayahu 66:20)

In the Temple, Jews will say to G-d..."Let but my Beloved come to His garden and enjoy His precious people."  If You are there, all is there.

....