[Avodah] Sign of Strength

[cantorwolberg at cox.net]

R' Saul Newman wrote: "...Dwelling in un-walled cities indicated that they were strong, since they relied on their strength, while living in fortified cities was a sign of weakness... People who are internally strong have no need for such walls..."

Interestingly, in Vayikra 25:30, the phrase "in a walled city" (lo—with a vav—chomah) is written in the Torah "in an unwalled city" (lo —with an aleph—chomah).

Rashi explains this to indicate that the law applies to a city that has no walls today, as long as it had walls when Joshua conquered Israel.

For 19 years, Jerusalem was split into two, with a wall dividing the new city from the old.

It has been suggested that the Torah here hints to events of contemporary times when Jerusalem with its dividing wall (lo with a vav) will become a city without walls (lo with an aleph), forever one, forever united.

Rabbi Duschensky writes that the Torah may be suggesting that while the fortification of Jerusalem symbolized by walls is necessary for its defense, God's help is at least as important to protect the city.   

And perhaps it can be added, that only when the inhabitants of Jerusalem remove the walls surrounding themselves, i.e., when the religious and irreligious come to love each other, will there be a city that is secure, at peace, whole — walled.

So the interpretation from "walled city" to "a non walled city" has contemporary meaning especially for this coming Monday, Yom Yerushalayim.  It is essential that Jerusalem never be divided.  And it's the spirit of the Almighty which validates Jerusalem and this can only occur when we eradicate the barriers between ourselves.

Only then will Jerusalem will be what its name means — Yeru, Aramaic for city, of Shalom, Peace, and also, (since Shalom is one of God's Names) [city of] God. 

Only then—will Jerusalem, without internal and obstructive walls—become a unified walled city.

K.T.
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