Thursday, July 26

Yet Another Parsha Sheet

Today DH went to a Yom Iyun at the Knesset.  11 speakers presented different aspects of the issue "Tefilla on Har HaBayit".   That the parliament hosts these discussions is, in itself, very "cool".   Jewish country,  Jewish topics....  But , let's say that this was a one-time event, even though in reality there are many such Yemei Iyun all the time.  But each stands alone....

What is NOT a one-time event, but is now a regular weekly feature of life in the Israeli Parliament, is the weekly Parsha sheet חכימא.  The sheet is a compilation of divrei Torah related to the parsha and/or time of year, written by MKs, aides, advisors, and Rabbanim.  The editor is a man named Yaron Ungar, a lawyer and legal aide in the legislature and legal research at he Knesset.  His article in this week's חכימא is titled במצוות החוק- in The Command of Justice, bringing quotes from this weeks Haftara (Yeshayahu, perek aleph) and Arba Turim about the necessity of improving our judicial system as a key to Geula.  

On the other side of the page is Rav Drukman's explanation of what exactly we are mourning, and of the expression כי עין בעין יראו, emphasizing that we must use TWO eyes- the eye that sees how much we already have and the eye that sees towards what we are still striving.  
If the nation is reflected by what is happening in the Knesset, then we are also reflected by the beautiful words in this sheet.   These words are very encouraging, because each of us personally can improve our two eyes, our appreciation for what we have and our striving towards what is still missing.  And that second eye can take into account the message Yaron Ungar is teaching - that our individual honesty will affect the honesty of the leadership.  And when honesty is the norm, Hashem promises towards the end of hazon Yeshayahu: ואשיבה שופטייך כבראשונה, ויועצייך כבתחילה.  I will return your judges as at the beginning, and your advisors as at the start.  After that, you (Yerushalaim) will be called City of Justice, a Faithful Quarter.

We have a tradition that leaders have limited Free Will, as their moves are dictated according to what we, the nation, deserve.  (לב מלך ביד ה' - משלי)
Personally, I see this parsha sheet, written, published, distributed and read in the Israeli Knesset, as a sign that we as a nation are moving towards the fulfillment of this ending of the Haftara: ציון במשפט תיפדה ושביה בצדקה
Zion will be redeemed through lawfulness, and her returnees through fairness.

slowly but surely.... קמעא קמעא
keep those two eyes open, and together we will make it happen

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