Like a Pomegranate
A Talk by Rabbi Israel Rubin, at the Completion of a Talmud Tractate (SIYUM) in Saratoga Springs, in honor of the Firstborn Fast - eve of Pesach 5762 / 2002
Tractate Chagigah focuses on the festival pilgrimages, when Jews traveled to celebrate Pesach, Shavuoth and Sukkot in Jerusalem to bask in the glory of the Divine countenance.
It's obvious relevance to the holiday is why Tractate Chagiga is recommended for the traditional Siyum to alleviate the Firstborn's Fast on Erev Pesach (Shaloh Hakadosh and Ari).
We conclude this tractate with the following statement:
"Resh Lakish said. "Even the sinners of Israel cannot consumed by the fire of Gehenna. We learn this from the Golden Altar of Incense in the holy Temple, where the fire burned many years but never penetrated the wood, which was covered only by a thin sheet of gold the size of a coin. Certainly the fire would not penetrate the Sinners of Israel who are filled with Mitzvos like a pomegranate, as the verse says in Shir Hasheirem "Kefelach Harimon Rakasech ". Does this seem to weaken the deterrent, making the fires of Genhanna less fearsome?It should be noted that Resh Lakish's statement contrasts with an earlier exclusive opinion, that only Torah Scholars fired up with Torah are resistant to the fire of Gehenna.
The Biography of Resh Lakish will allow us to better appreciate his statement: Originally a robust highway robber Resh Lakish changed direction and became a Baal Teshuva, rising in Torah Scholarship as a colleague of the great Rabbi Yochanan. Resh Lakish learned the potential of a sinner from his own personal experience.
Jews from all walks of life were welcomed in the Temple. Despite their levels of observance, everyone was assumed to be upright and pure. Despite superficial appearances, affiliations and circumstances, deep down the inner core remains intact and indestructible. We learned this unfortunately the hard way, with the recent kidnapping and gruesome killing of Wall Street reporter Daniel Pearl, and his famous last words: "I am Jewish."
This concluding statement does not serve just as a happing ending. It follows the main theme of tractate Chagigah.when Jews visited the Holy Temple "to see, and to be seen." They observed not just the outer physical structure of the Building, but became inspired and by the deeper insights to the Temple and the services. Indeed the Talmud recounts that Cohanim would raise the Gold Table and its showbread, displaying it to the visitors, exclaiming: "Behold and see your love before G-d.
The Talmud (Yoma 54b) describes how they would open all the Temple's curtains, so the visiting Jews could view the splendor of the Holy Cherubim in the inner Sanctum.
Perhaps this message of enduring and unconditional love of all Israel radiating from the Golden Altar also followed in the same vein. Inspired by the Golden Altar, the Jews took its message of love and unity back home.
Jews from all walks of life were welcomed in the Temple. Despite superficial appearances, affiliations & circumstances, deep down the inner core remains intact indestructible.
"Do not regard anyone with contempt... for there is no person who does not have his hour"
- Avot 4:3
Tractate Chagigah focuses on the festival pilgrimages, when Jews traveled to celebrate Pesach, Shavuoth and Sukkot in Jerusalem to bask in the glory of the Divine countenance.
It's obvious relevance to the holiday is why Tractate Chagiga is recommended for the traditional Siyum to alleviate the Firstborn's Fast on Erev Pesach (Shaloh Hakadosh and Ari).
We conclude this tractate with the following statement:
"Resh Lakish said. "Even the sinners of Israel cannot consumed by the fire of Gehenna. We learn this from the Golden Altar of Incense in the holy Temple, where the fire burned many years but never penetrated the wood, which was covered only by a thin sheet of gold the size of a coin. Certainly the fire would not penetrate the Sinners of Israel who are filled with Mitzvos like a pomegranate, as the verse says in Shir Hasheirem "Kefelach Harimon Rakasech ". Does this seem to weaken the deterrent, making the fires of Genhanna less fearsome?It should be noted that Resh Lakish's statement contrasts with an earlier exclusive opinion, that only Torah Scholars fired up with Torah are resistant to the fire of Gehenna.
The Biography of Resh Lakish will allow us to better appreciate his statement: Originally a robust highway robber Resh Lakish changed direction and became a Baal Teshuva, rising in Torah Scholarship as a colleague of the great Rabbi Yochanan. Resh Lakish learned the potential of a sinner from his own personal experience.
Jews from all walks of life were welcomed in the Temple. Despite their levels of observance, everyone was assumed to be upright and pure. Despite superficial appearances, affiliations and circumstances, deep down the inner core remains intact and indestructible. We learned this unfortunately the hard way, with the recent kidnapping and gruesome killing of Wall Street reporter Daniel Pearl, and his famous last words: "I am Jewish."
This concluding statement does not serve just as a happing ending. It follows the main theme of tractate Chagigah.when Jews visited the Holy Temple "to see, and to be seen." They observed not just the outer physical structure of the Building, but became inspired and by the deeper insights to the Temple and the services. Indeed the Talmud recounts that Cohanim would raise the Gold Table and its showbread, displaying it to the visitors, exclaiming: "Behold and see your love before G-d.
The Talmud (Yoma 54b) describes how they would open all the Temple's curtains, so the visiting Jews could view the splendor of the Holy Cherubim in the inner Sanctum.
Perhaps this message of enduring and unconditional love of all Israel radiating from the Golden Altar also followed in the same vein. Inspired by the Golden Altar, the Jews took its message of love and unity back home.
Jews from all walks of life were welcomed in the Temple. Despite superficial appearances, affiliations & circumstances, deep down the inner core remains intact indestructible.
"Do not regard anyone with contempt... for there is no person who does not have his hour"
- Avot 4:3