“Mt. Sinai and
Mt. Moriah”
Shavuot 1967: Grand Reopening of the Kotel for Jewish Prayer – a
week after the end of the 6 Day War. The NY Times covered the event with a special
report in its June 14, 1967 issue.
The Times was not aware of just how appropriate it was for Shavuot
to be celebrated in connection with the Kotel and Temple Mount. For Har Sinai
(central to the Shavuot story) and Har Hamoriah (location of Temple Mount) are
the two mountains most central to Jewish history and Jewish identity.
Our
Rabbis teach us just how interconnected the two locations are.
Har Sinai is the model/ inspiration for the Beit
Hamikdash on Har Hamoriah:
1.
Chazal teach us
that the fire that constantly burned on the Mizbeach on Har Hamoriah had
originally been lit from the fire that burned during Matan Torah on Har Sinai.
2.
Vayikra Rabba:
the sprinkling of blood that Moshe does at Har Sinai- marks the origins
of sprinkling blood, so important in the temple Service on Har Hamoriah
3.
Ramban’s
opinion is that the purpose of the Mishkan is to be a mobile Sinai unit- to
have an ongoing Revelation, similar to what occurred at Har Sinai- as the Jews
make their way to Israel, and ultimately on Har Hamoriah in the Beit Hamikdash.
It emerges that the relationship between Har Sinai and Har Hamoriah
is symbiotic and synergistic. Each Mountain teaches us lessons that are
informed and enhanced by the other.
It was the
personal sacrifice, the lonely road of submission to God and the countercultural
beliefs demonstrated by Avraham at the Akeida on Har Hamoriah that set the
paradigm for Bnai Yisrael. Avraham’s declaration of Hineni at Har HaMoriah inspired
the nation’s declaration of Na’aseh V’Nishma (ie we submit to God even if we
don’t understand) at Har Sinai.
And it was the
commitment to Jewish unity and national identity exhibited by Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai that was
crucial for the nation to develop as they prepared to live a normal yet noble
life in Eretz Yisrael, with their spiritual focal point being the Beit
Hamikdash on Har Hamoriah.
From Har Hamoriah we
learn the value of Personal Identity, Diversity and Blazing our own trail. From
Har Sinai we learn national Identity, Unity. and appreciating the value of
community and tradition. These lessons
must reside within one person, one spot, as the Midrash Tanchuma teaches us:
“Sinai Meheichan Bah? MeHar Hamoriah Nitlash K’Challah Me’Isa.
Har Sinai and Har Hamoriah come from the same location. Har Hamoriah informs the Har Sinai experience
which then influences the Beit Hamikdash on Har Hamoriah. There is a tension
with which we live as we navigate between Har Hamoriah (personal identity) and
Har Sinai (collective responsibility). And yet these two great mountains of
Jewish history encourage us to understand how together they form a rich
tapestry, critical to Jewish life.
As we prepare to celebrate both Yom Yerushalayim and Shavuot, let us recommit ourselves to the lessons of Mt Moriah and Mt. Sinai.
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