בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
This parsha begins with service of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur has a strong emphasis on the service in the Temple along with the importance of repentance. This painting as well deals with the Kotel adjacent to the Temple Mount and the shofar, the instrument of repentance. The Kotel is seen as a Torah scroll with candle-lights to its sides. This matter may hint to the deep connection between the Torah and the Temple, considered a continuation of the Mishkan which was also a continuation of Mount Sinai where the Torah was given. This simply explains the verse “from Zion Torah shall come and the word of Hashem from Jerusalem.” The lights to the sides also indicate the identification of Torah with light as the verse says “for the mitzva is a candle and the Torah is light.” In addition we see seven groups of seven cypresses (seven times seven like the counting of the Omer) located on the earth, while there is an eighth group of seven cypresses found on top of the Kotel. This seems to represent the “earthly holiness” indicated by the number seven according to the Kabbalists, while eight refers to the supernatural/heavenly holiness associated to the Temple/Kotel. There is also a seven-petalled rose from which the man blowing the shofar emerges. The rose is considered in the Zohar to symbolize the Assembly of Israel, and it seems that this man emerges from this rose to indicate that he is a messenger on behalf of Israel to bring them to repentance through the shofar. Notice as well that there is another reddish shofar seen in the heavens. This seems to hint to a “repentance/return” so-to-speak on the side of Hashem from the “heavens” so-to-speak. On the “earthly” shofar there is a man sending a dove, similar to Noah’s sending the dove after the flood. This matter may hint to the idea of renewal after repenting from sin just as the dove represented the renewal of the world after being obliterated in the Flood after being contaminated with sin. A fascinating parallel to the dove theme can be found using the Amoraic master Rabbi Yohanan’s teaching that all, including Neviim and Ketuvim. is hinted in the Humash. We may say that perhaps the entire book of Yonah may be hinted in Noah’s “yona” -dove. Both are associated with a ship and turbulent storm/flood, both with renewal/repentance, both with forty days, and both with vegetation, whether an olive branch or “kikayon.” The book of Yonah ends with the words “many animals” which may also hint to the many animals in Noah’s ark.
In a certain way Maarat Hamachpela can be seen as Noah’s ark of this day, continuing on the hope and the age-old promise of Hashem to our Patriarchs for redemption and renewal, no matter what the ages have “stormed” around us