"HaShem spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: When you arrive in the land of Cana'an that I give you as a possession, and I will place the tzara'at affliction upon a house in the land of your possession..." Rashi teaches us that this is a good tiding, for as you break down your walls to wipe out the tzara'at you will find buried inside the walls precious stones left behind by the seven nations, whom you have thrown out before you.
In some cases, when just breaking down a wall is not helpful, the entire house must be razed. True, as Rashi points out, this ultimately can be very rewarding if someone were to find the hidden treasure. Still, why must the person go through having his house demolished? Surely, if HaShem wanted to, He could have that person win the lottery. Why, then, must a person go through all of this suffering for some wealth?
The answer lies in our understanding of this past week's events. On Rosh Chodesh Nissan, we saw an attempt to organize a mass aliyah to the Temple Mount. The Israeli police, who have taken so much for so long with understanding and patience from the Arabs, now went into high gear. Panic-stricken that maybe some Jews would go up to the Temple Mount and pray, the police came out in full force. Over 3,000 cops came out to stop the Jew and his prayer book. Miles away from the Old City, police were eyeing and stopping people heading that way. People were arrested just heading to the Mount. Police in full riot gear were running to and fro to keep the Jews out. What, then, is the source of all of this panic?
The answer is really very simple; the Temple Mount is the key to holding on to the Land of Israel. Only too well do the Arabs understand this, as just the thought that Jews were heading up to the Mount brought out a great cry and demonstrations from all over the Arab world. As for us, the prophets of old call out to the Jewish people with the word of the L-rd: "'Is it a time for you yourselves to sit in your paneled houses, while this House is in ruins? Set your heart to your ways! Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the Temple, I will be pleased with it and be honored,' said HaShem."
And do not think for a moment that there is no connection between what is happening on the Mount and between our houses in the Land, like the ones in Gush Katif. For if the Temple Mount is in a state of great Chilul HaShem, then the rest of the land, G-d forbid, will be also. Our struggle for the Land of Israel must not stop at the Kotel, but quite the opposite; our main thrust must be for the right of return of the Jew to the Holy Mount.
The Talmud teaches us that there are three things that are acquired only through suffering: Olam HaBa, Torah and the Land of Israel. This suffering is needed in order for us, the Jewish people, to make a kinyan (acquisition) of the Land. For what comes easily and at no price, is lost quickly. The Land of Israel, acquired though suffering and blood by the Jewish people, will be the eternal Land of the People of Israel. And so, in our parsha, the Torah is in fact teaching us this very important principle. Sure, HaShem can make us rich through other and easier means, but that would be missing the point - that the Land of Israel is acquired though suffering.
Only by first breaking down the walls will we be able to find what is waiting for us, the most precious gift of all - the House of the L-rd.
In some cases, when just breaking down a wall is not helpful, the entire house must be razed. True, as Rashi points out, this ultimately can be very rewarding if someone were to find the hidden treasure. Still, why must the person go through having his house demolished? Surely, if HaShem wanted to, He could have that person win the lottery. Why, then, must a person go through all of this suffering for some wealth?
The answer lies in our understanding of this past week's events. On Rosh Chodesh Nissan, we saw an attempt to organize a mass aliyah to the Temple Mount. The Israeli police, who have taken so much for so long with understanding and patience from the Arabs, now went into high gear. Panic-stricken that maybe some Jews would go up to the Temple Mount and pray, the police came out in full force. Over 3,000 cops came out to stop the Jew and his prayer book. Miles away from the Old City, police were eyeing and stopping people heading that way. People were arrested just heading to the Mount. Police in full riot gear were running to and fro to keep the Jews out. What, then, is the source of all of this panic?
The answer is really very simple; the Temple Mount is the key to holding on to the Land of Israel. Only too well do the Arabs understand this, as just the thought that Jews were heading up to the Mount brought out a great cry and demonstrations from all over the Arab world. As for us, the prophets of old call out to the Jewish people with the word of the L-rd: "'Is it a time for you yourselves to sit in your paneled houses, while this House is in ruins? Set your heart to your ways! Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the Temple, I will be pleased with it and be honored,' said HaShem."
And do not think for a moment that there is no connection between what is happening on the Mount and between our houses in the Land, like the ones in Gush Katif. For if the Temple Mount is in a state of great Chilul HaShem, then the rest of the land, G-d forbid, will be also. Our struggle for the Land of Israel must not stop at the Kotel, but quite the opposite; our main thrust must be for the right of return of the Jew to the Holy Mount.
The Talmud teaches us that there are three things that are acquired only through suffering: Olam HaBa, Torah and the Land of Israel. This suffering is needed in order for us, the Jewish people, to make a kinyan (acquisition) of the Land. For what comes easily and at no price, is lost quickly. The Land of Israel, acquired though suffering and blood by the Jewish people, will be the eternal Land of the People of Israel. And so, in our parsha, the Torah is in fact teaching us this very important principle. Sure, HaShem can make us rich through other and easier means, but that would be missing the point - that the Land of Israel is acquired though suffering.
Only by first breaking down the walls will we be able to find what is waiting for us, the most precious gift of all - the House of the L-rd.