בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
Painting by: Baruch Nachshon z”l
And You Shall Settle Upon the Land Securely
This parsha Behukotai mentions Israel’s settling upon the Land securely as a blessing coming from Israel’s keeping the covenant with Hashem through Torah study and observance. This drawing, painted by R’ Nachson in 1967, apparently subsequently to the liberation of the Western Wall in the Six Day War, seems to express the renewal of covenant with Hashem at this liberation. We see a young soldier with tefillin saying the Shema at the Western Wall while holding the hand of an elderly rabbi. The young soldier with tefillin saying the Shema seems to represent the renewal of devotion and covenant to Hashem, and also the holding of the hand of the elderly rabbi represents the verse “and he {Elijah] shall make the hearts of the fathers return to the sons and the hearts of the sons return to their fathers.
In the background we see a man soldier and a woman by his side, seemingly a couple. This may also be a metaphor for Israel’s return to the Holy Land, as a husband reuniting with his wife, as Isaiah (62, 2) depicts. Indeed, this unity is a matter to rejoice about as is in a wedding. This may be the meaning of the Hasidim dancing at the top of the drawing, hinting to the joy in heaven of the righteous with Israel’s returb to their Land. Interesting to note that the Six Day War began on the Sefirat haOmer of yesod shebeyesod, a sefira identified with peace and harmony between a couple. This day occurs this year on Shabbat when Israel are also united with their “wife” of time, the Holy Shabbat “bride.”
Today, we are in a midst of a war that challenges us upon the renewal of our covenant with Hashem and also in regard to our devotion to our Holy Land. Although there are many differences between the Six Day War and our current war, we can note the Six Day War’s juxtaposition to the holiday of Shavuot, called Atzeret by our Sages, and the association of the current war with Shmini Atzeret. Both Shavuot and Shemini Atzeret are the “eighth day” after a period of seven days or weeks. According to the Kabbalists the term Atzeret connotes a type of unity of “husband and wife” on a Divine level. Thus, let us hope and direct our thoughts and actions to turn this current war into a similar outcome of renewed connection to Hashem and to the Land as we witnessed in the Six Day War, and even more so! A key city in making this happen is Hebron, for Hebron is the Israel’s first settlement in the Holy Land, stands as the Beacon of Israel’s union – hibur – with the Holy Land.