Why Next Year in Jerusalem?
by Rabbi Yehudah Prero
When the Torah discusses the commandment of Ma'aser Sheini, The Second Tithe,
it tells us that this tithe of grain, wine or oil must be eaten in Jerusalem.
Why is this the case? The verse says (Devarim 12:23?) "So that you may learn
to fear Hashem, your G-d, all your days." How is it that our stay in Jerusalem
will impart a lesson on how to constantly fear G-d?
The Alter from Slabodka, R' Nosson Finkel zt"l, writes that every person, when
he or she makes the pilgrimage to Jerusalem "to learn how to fear G-d" must
celebrate, and must assure that his family rejoices as well. However, separate
from this obligation exists another reality: Jerusalem must be "the joy of all
the earth," as it is called in Tehillim (48:3). This moniker is not just a
description; it is a dictate! Jerusalem does not just happen to be the place
of joy because it is the capital city, the seat of the nation's monarchy, and
a symbol of the might of the nation. Jerusalem, by its very nature and
composition, is obligated to be the joy of all the earth. The Sages endeavored
to distance any speck of pain, disappointment or unpleasantness from
Jerusalem.
The Medrash (Shmos Rabba) tells us "Rav Yochanan said: A center for business
calculations existed outside of Jerusalem. Anyone who needed an accounting
went there to have the calculations done. Why was this there? So that if one
were to make the calculations and find the bottom line disappointing, he would
not be disappointed in Jerusalem, as Jerusalem is called the 'joy of all the
earth.'"
Keeping Jerusalem a place of joy was so important that even the tiniest amount
of unpleasantness had to be eliminated from the city. Because of the small
lack of satisfaction that one individual sitting over his books might feel
when he sees that his profit was not as he expected, because of this minute
amount of disappointment, a special building was erected outside of Jerusalem.
In this special building, calculations were to be done. The joyous atmosphere
of Jerusalem had to be maintained, intact, without a single blemish on the
feelings of happiness evident there. The great sea of joy can not be polluted
with the tiniest drop of negativity. It must remain pure and undefiled,
glowing with a joyous light. Any individual in Jerusalem needs to be drawn to
this city in a spirit befitting the "fairest of sites, joy of all the earth."
Why does Jerusalem need to be such a happy place? Why is such a high level of
joy necessary? Jerusalem needs to be the place of utmost holiness and
godliness, full of Torah and the fear of G-d. Any blemish or flaw existing in
the happiness or the pleasantness of the city would translate into a flaw in
the fear of G-d and the holy spirit of the Torah there. One could not get a
proper lesson in how to fear G-d in such a locale.
Why is this true? What is the connection between happiness and holiness? The
Torah wants us to use our existence on this earth productively. We are
supposed to want life. The Torah says (Devarim 30:19) "I call heaven and earth
to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may
live." This choice of life is the application of the entire Torah.
But what is life? It is not the minutiae of our physical existence. It is not
the pursuit of physical pleasure and earthly desires. It is not the drive to
reach those goals that we convince ourselves are important, and which
ultimately drive us to the brink of destruction. Life is basking in the light
of G-d. Before us, great and massive valleys open up, that distance our mind
from our souls to an unfathomable degree. Our eyes should see the emptiness of
the world. We can't allow our thoughts to overpower our ability to reach the
eternal. The life of eternity, the life of Torah is so pure and so pleasant,
that no unpleasantness, whether spiritual or physical, can be tolerated. When
one's dedication to G-d is complete, joy permeates his being. He or she is in
a state of contentment. An atmosphere that is not full of joy is not conducive
to reaching the true fear and respect of G-d that is to be learned. Joy cannot
be maintained in a place that is not joyful.
When the pilgrims make their way to Jerusalem, they find a city that does not
tolerate gloominess. When they come to learn how to fear G-d, they find a city
that only accepts joy. Just as the city of Jerusalem must be a joyous
location, so too must we be joyous throughout our lives. Jerusalem is like a
sponge that absorbs all that is good about life, and it is in those environs
that the nation of Israel can be happy and serve and fear G-d appropriately.
It is that level of joy we should strive to keep with us always, so our
service of G-d will be at a high level of perfection.
We conclude the Seder with the following statement: "The order of the Seder is
complete, according to its laws, all of its ordinances and statutes. Just as
we merited to perform it, so too may we merit to truly offer the sacrifice. O
Pure One, Who Dwells on High, uplift the assembly of the community who cannot
be counted. Soon, and in joy, may you lead the offshoots of the stock which
you have planted, redeemed to Zion. Next year may we be in Jerusalem!"
After we complete the entire order of the evening, and realize that we are
truly lucky to be a free nation, free to serve G-d, we must recognize that
something is missing. Our happiness is not complete. We cannot truly fear G-d
and fulfill His dictates properly until we can experience a pure feeling of
joy. As long as we are in exile, we can not experience that joy. We ask Hashem
that he bring the entire nation to Jerusalem, to redeem His nation from their
current exile. Then we can all make the pilgrimage and experience the glee of
the city that is the fairest of all sites, joy of the entire earth. This
experience will permit us to gain the education of how to fear G-d, and then
our service of G-d, our offering to Him on Pesach, will truly be complete,
according to its laws, all of its ordinances, and statutes. It is because we
desire this level of closeness with G-d that we conclude our Seder with
L'Shanah HaBa'ah B'Yerushalayim, Next year may we be in Jerusalem!
R' Yehudah Prero
