Torah Portion

Redemption, Unification
And The People's Strength

Avi
Waldman

explained by suggesting that Yaakov
metaphorically took something from
Eliyahu (the letter vav) to ensure that
Eliyahu would return to inform us of
the redemption inspired by the coming
of the Mashiach (Messiah).
The fact that the letter vav was cho-
sen is not coincidental. The letter repre-
sents a conjunction, uniting different
`And I will remember my covenant with
things together, as indeed it translates as
Jacob, even my covenant with Isaac, and
and. The translation of the Hebrew
even my covenant with Abraham I will
word vav is hook.
remember, and I will remember the land"
This week, as we celebrate the 34th
(Leviticus 26:42)
anniversary of the unification of
Jerusalem, I remember very
fter describing all of
well the atmosphere in the
the terrifying and
streets of Jerusalem 34 years
awesome curses
ago. The unity of our people
which will befall
resulted in a resounding tri-
the Jewish people should they
umph. We felt connected one
fail to follow the ways set out
to another and to all of our
for them by God, there is yet
brothers and sisters in exile.
another promise: Even though
Most importantly,
these punishments would
though, we felt a profound,
occur, God would still
sacred connection with God,
remember the covenants
connected as one entity with
RABBI YIGAL
which He had made with
Him. Clearly, the outcome of
TSAIDI
Jacob, Isaac and Abraham.
our unity, both among our-
Special to the
There would be no com-
selves and with God, was vic-
Jewish News
plete annihilation of the
tory!
Jewish people; there would
As we continue in the
only be punishments occur-
rebuilding of the earthly city of
ring out of love and concern, as a father
Jerusalem, we must also continue to
would punish his child. Despite what
work as a united people to build up the
the nation may do, the connection to
heavenly city of Jerusalem, which in
their Father in heaven would never be
turn will prompt the redemption.
The unification of
all Jewish people —
secular and religious,
Sephardic and
Ashkenazic, rich and
poor, soldier and civil-
ian — must take place!
The vav — the con-
nection — between
people and between
people and God is the
severed, and in fact the Jewish people
vital experience that must occur.
would eventually return to the land that
"The built-up Jerusalem is like a
God promised to us.
city that is united together." (Psalms
When considering a return to this
122:3).
land and the rebuilding of Jerusalem,
there is a profound message that can be
read within one letter of one word in
one verse of the Bible. In the original
Hebrew version, the name Yaakov
Are consequences positive or
(Jacob) is written with the addition of
negative? Discuss how they can
the letter vav in only five places in the
be either or both. What do you
Tanach (Bible).
think is the policy of God
Correspondingly, the name Eliyahu
regarding consequences? What
(Elijah), which is usually spelled with a
did God promise to the Jewish
vav as its last letter, is missing that vav
people regardless of their
in exactly five places in the Tanach.
behavior? What does the letter
This fascinating phenomenon is
vav teach us? What is its signif-
icance?
Rabbi Yigal Tsaidi is educational
director of Yeshivat Akiva in Southfield.

Shabbat Behar-
Behukotai:
Leviticus 25:1-27.•34;
Jeremiah I 6: 19-17:14 .

B.H. -
T.G. - B.H.S.

Graduation

We are so
proud of youT

Love always,
Dad, Dr. Mark Waldman,
Sisters Etta, Esther, Shayna
and Zipporah Leah Waldman

A

The outcome of our unity
was victory, and we felt a
connection with God.

❑

Congratulations
Mikey

We know you will succeed at
everything you set your mind to.

We wish you health,
happiness and success.

We're so proud of you!

•

5/18
2001

04

/OM

Mom and Dad, Elliot and Molly too.

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