I
n this week’
s portion, the Torah
seems to be speaking of the holy
city of Jerusalem (Deuteronomy
12:5-6) because it appears in
the context of Israel’
s entry
into the Promised Land and
the necessity to destroy the
altars of idolatry before estab-
lishing our Temple to God.
But why is Jerusalem not
named?
Maimonides offers expla-
nations. First, he felt that
publication of the name of
the unique city would only
incite the other nations to
make war against Israel in
order to acquire Jerusalem
for themselves. Second, the
other nations might attempt
to destroy the city if only so
the Israelites do not acquire
it. And finally, Moses feared
all the tribes would fight over
it, each desirous of having
Jerusalem within its own bor-
ders.
I believe there is even further sig-
nificance behind Moses’
reluctance to
reveal the precise name of the city. In
the ancient world, every nation-state
had its own god who, the citizens
believed, lived within the boundaries
of that nation-state. Jerusalem was
to be the city which would house the
Holy Temple of God but God would
exclusively dwell neither within the
Temple nor within that city; God
was the Lord of the entire universe,
who could not be encompassed even
by the heaven of the heavens, by the
entire cosmos, so certainly not by a
single structure or even a single city.
There is one place in the world,
teaches Moses, where God has con-
sistently been recognized as the
Creator of the world and foundation
of ethical monotheism for all of
humanity. One’
s name is not one’
s
physical being, but one’
s name is the
medium by which one is recognized
and called upon.
Malki-Zedek, ancient king of
Jerusalem and identified with Shem,
the son of Noah, recognized God
as the power who enabled
Abraham to emerge victorious
in his battle against the four
despotic kings and rescue
Lot from captivity. Abraham
himself recognized God as the
ultimate arbiter over life and
death, the one to whom we
must commit ourselves and
our future, when he brought
his beloved son Isaac to
the akedah on Mount Moriah
(Jerusalem). God’
s name is
on Jerusalem; it is the city
in which the God of ethical
monotheism is to be recog-
nized and served.
Finally, the name Jerusalem
is not specifically mentioned
because this recognition of
God as the guardian of justice
and compassion, lovingkind-
ness and truth is necessary not
only for the people of Jerusalem, not
only for all the tribes of Israel, but
rather for the entire world.
When God initially elects
Abraham, the Almighty charges him
and his descendants with a univer-
sal mission: “Through you all the
families of Earth shall be blessed”
.
(Genesis 12:3).
The prophet Isaiah speaks of our
vision of the end of days, when the
Holy Temple will rise from the top of
the mountains, and all nations will
rush to it to learn from our ways:
“From Zion shall come forth Torah
and the word of God from Jerusalem
… so that nation shall not lift up
sword against nation and humanity
will not learn war anymore.”
May the God who cannot be con-
fined to any physical place reveal His
teaching of peace and security from
Jerusalem, His city, to every human
being throughout the world. ■
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr Torah
Stone and chief rabbi of Efrat, Israel.
Rabbi
Shlomo Riskin
The City Of Peace
The City Of Peace
Parshat
Re’
eh:
Deuteronomy
11:26-16:17;
Numbers
28:9-15;
Isaiah
66:1-24.
(Shabbat
Rosh
Chodesh)
spirit
torah portion
August 29 • 2019 39
jn
Minimally Invasive LANAP Laser T
reatment
for Gum Disease
The laser alternative to traditional gum surgery for treating
gum disease.
Minimally Invasive
Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation T
echnique™
Gives patients a minimally invasive option to treat gum
recession, eliminates discomfort and improves the smile.
The Crown Lengthening Procedure
Improves a “gummy” smile by removing excess gum tissue
for a pleasing, natural-looking smile.
Dental Implants
A replacement for a natural tooth root that has the same
function, permanence, and appearance.
www.drnemeth.com
248.357.3100 | 29829 Telegraph Road, Suite 111 |
Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS & Amar Katranji, DDS, MS
Breakthrough Techniques and Impeccable Care for
Gum Disease and
®
SIGN UP ONLINE...
the je wis h n ews . co m
Buy 1 year at
full price, get the
2nd year half off
when you renew or
sign up online only.
Buy 2 years at
full price, get the
3rd year free
when you renew or
sign up online only.
*Can not be combined with any other offers/discounts or on previous purchases.
OR
USE COUPON CODE: TULIP
USE COUPON CODE: 3RDFREE