Transcending towards Jerusalem

When we speak to G-d, especially in the formally organized prayers found in the Siddur, and most especially during the standing prayer ('Amida'), we do something simple but most profound. Wherever we are in the world -- Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, New York, Sao Paulo, Durban, Perth, London -- we face towards Israel. The Talmud (Brachot 30a) explains further: if one is in Israel, one faces towards Jerusalem; if one is in Jerusalem, one faces towards the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple); if one is standing in the Temple (as we all will one day, may it be very soon), one faces towards the Holy of Holies...* It's one of the most basic things about praying. Pretty simple, right?


No, not really. I'm out of town at the moment, and when I got up to pray this morning, I went outside into the cool breeze and began to speak to G-d ('pray'). When the time came to do the Amida, I turned to the north, as we do in South Africa (check an atlas). Do you know what I saw? I saw tall buildings sloping upwards on my left and on my right, and a small triangle of sky, opening upwards, which was occupied with the top of another distant building. The buildings were okay, but nothing magnificent. And, in these new surroundings, I thought, is that what I'm praying towards? This mediocre-looking building?

I reminded myself that, of course, this building means nothing in terms of my direction of prayer. I'm not praying to the building, or even through the building. I'm praying beyond the building. I'm praying all the way to Jerusalem! I was filled with inspiration and pride (and an instant decision that I'd write an article about it for Tzipiyah.com :) ); I suddenly had a deeper insight into a very simple custom that's so intrinsic a part of our prayer rituals. When we pray, we turn and face towards Jerusalem. Even when we're so far away physically, we direct our hearts** towards our most cherished place. We yearn for its rebuilding and completeness; we long to be there. And even if we know that today we can't be there, we connect with its holiness; we know that it's the seat of G-d's presence in this physical world, and, when we connect to G-d in prayer, we try to picture ourselves right there. The very essence of our prayer is deeply woven with Jerusalem.

On the last day of my latest trip to Israel, I was feeling tearful and heavy-hearted, knowing that I'd have to leave this special place. I walked into a newspaper shop between Ben Yehuda and King George streets, to buy a paper to read on the plane -- wonderful for improving your Hebrew. The shopkeeper, an older man, and I got talking. I told him, for some reason, that I was leaving Israel that night. I still remember what he said to me. I think he said that he and his family had been living in Yerushalayim for many generations. And he said, go back, do what you have to do. But come back. You know you'll come back. And whenever you pray, picture yourself standing at the Kotel. See yourself standing there, even when you're so far away. You'll come back!

It made it a little easier to bear.

The Talmud ends off the section about praying towards Israel and Jerusalem with the most beautiful words. Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) 4:4 says: "Your neck [O Israel,] is like the tower of David; built as 'Talpiyot'" -- Rabbi Avin / Rabbi Avina says, ['Talpiyot' means] 'Tel,' the hill, towards which all 'piyot', mouths, face: Jerusalem (the tower of David) is the hill towards which all mouths face in prayer. Wherever we are in the world, we turn towards Israel and Jerusalem.

Let's get to Jerusalem soon. In our prayers, and in our physical lives. Very soon!

Shabbat shalom

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* The Talmud goes on all the way up to envisioning oneself standing before the Holy Ark, as one is standing on progressively holier gorund.
** The Talmud there (Brachot 30a) actually uses the term 'direct one's heart', and does not actually mention physically facing towards Israel, Jerusalem, etc.