Jerusalem and David: Worksheet
RS
ByRudy Stoler

"My Heart is in the East"

by Yehuda Halevi (c. 1141), a poet from the Jewish community in Arab Spain

My heart is in the east, and I in the uttermost west--

How can I find savour in food? How shall it be sweet to me?

How shall I render my vows and my bonds, while yet

Zion lieth beneath the fetter of Edom, and I in Arab chains?

A light thing would it seem to me to leave all the good things of Spain --

Seeing how precious in mine eyes to behold the dust of the desolate sanctuary.

Sources: Translated from the Hebrew by Nina Salaman, 1924 This edition published in 1924 by Jewish Publication Society of America, Essential Texts of Zionism

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Zionism/halevi.html

זכריה ח׳:ג׳
(ג) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שַׁ֚בְתִּי אֶל־צִיּ֔וֹן וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּת֣וֹךְ יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְנִקְרְאָ֤ה יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ עִ֣יר־הָֽאֱמֶ֔ת וְהַר־יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת הַ֥ר הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ (ס)
Zechariah 8:3

(3) Thus saith the LORD: I return unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts The holy mountain.

Discussion Questions:

(1) What is Yehuda Halevi's dilemma in the above poem?

(2) What does it mean for Hashem to return to Zion (Jerusalem)?

(3) What does it mean to say Hashem has left it?

(4) How do you feel about the thought of returning to Jerusalem?

Babylonian Talmud: Sanhedrin 98a

R. Joshua b. Levi met Elijah standing by the entrance of R. Simeon b. Yohai's tomb. He asked him: 'Have I a portion in the world to come?'[...] He replied, 'if this Master desires it.' [...]

He then asked him, 'When will the Messiah come?' - 'Go and ask him himself,' was his reply. 'Where is he sitting?' - 'At the entrance.' And by what sign may I recognize him?' - 'He is sitting among the poor lepers: all of them untie [them] all at once, and re-bandage them together, whereas he unties and re-bandages each separately, [before treating the next], thinking, should I be wanted, [it being time for my appearance as the Messiah] I must not be delayed [through having to bandage a number of sores].'

So he went to him and greeted him, saying, 'peace upon thee, Master and Teacher.' 'peace upon thee, O son of Levi,' he replied. 'When wilt thou come Master?' asked he, 'Today', was his answer.

On his returning to Elijah, the latter inquired, 'What did he say to thee?' - 'peace Upon thee, O son of Levi,' he answered. Thereupon he [Elijah] observed, 'He thereby assured thee and thy father of [a portion in] the world to come.' 'He spoke falsely to me,' he rejoined, 'stating that he would come to-day, but has not.' He [Elijah] answered him, 'This is what he said to thee, To-day, if you will hear his voice.'

(translation credit: Judeo-Christian Research http://juchre.org/talmud/sanhedrin/sanhedrin5.htm)

Discussion Questions:

(1) What is the Messiah waiting for according to this aggadah (rabbinic tale)?

(2) What will it take for the Messiah to come today?

ירמיהו ל״ג:ט״ו

(טו) בַּיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵם֙ וּבָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא אַצְמִ֥יחַ לְדָוִ֖ד צֶ֣מַח צְדָקָ֑ה וְעָשָׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

Jeremiah 33:15

(15) In those days, and at that time, Will I cause a shoot of righteousness to grow up unto David; And he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

צֶמַח (n-m)

    1. sprout, growth, branch
      1. sprouting, growth, sprout
      2. growth (of process)
      3. sprout, shoot (of Messiah from Davidic tree)
יחזקאל כ״ט:כ״א

(כא) בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא אַצְמִ֤יחַ קֶ֙רֶן֙ לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּלְךָ֛ אֶתֵּ֥ן פִּתְחֽוֹן־פֶּ֖ה בְּתוֹכָ֑ם וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ (פ)

Ezekiel 29:21

(21) In that day will I cause a horn to shoot up unto the house of Israel, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.’

קֶרֶן (n-f)

    1. n f
    2. horn
      1. horn
      2. of strength (fig)
      3. flask (container for oil)
      4. horn (as musical instrument)
      5. horn (of horn-like projections on the altar)
      6. of rays of light
      7. hill
    3. n pr loc
    4. (BDB) a place conquered by Israel probably in Bashan

קֶרֶן (n-f)

    1. horn
      1. as musical instrument
      2. symbolic (in visions)
      3. of an animal

Definitions from: Open Scriptures on GitHub

Discussion Questions:

(1) Read the verses from Jeremiah and Ezekiel about the coming of the Messiah. What differences and similarities can you find between the metaphors for the coming of the Messiah (in bold)?

(2) What do you imagine when you think about the coming of the Messiah? Draw a picture on the following page depicting your own metaphor (or one from the prophetic verses).