“Honorable
things are spoken about you, O city of God, forever.”
(Psalms 87:3)
All that is related to Jerusalem is of the highest nature and
quality, as it is all related to goodness, simply because is “the city of God”
as its immutable ruling principle for His creation. Hence, it is an eternal,
absolute, self-sufficient entity destined to direct all aspects and expressions
of life.
“But about Zion it shall be said, ‘This one and that one were born in
her’; the Most High himself establishes her.” (87:5)
Here, the verse equates the place of birth to the essence
of one’s identity. Therefore Zion, as well as the Torah, defines the Jewish
identity as the bonding quality that the Creator of all with Israel.
The essence of this identity is goodness as the expression
of every aspect and facet of Jewish life. Thus we are recognized by the principle
that guides our actions, for it is what identifies who we are, that has been
established for us by our Creator.
“Those
that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our
God.” (92:13)
The Jewish identity is deeply rooted in the principle that
encompasses all the principles inherent in God’s commandments, decrees, statutes
and ordinances presented in the Torah.
Goodness as the absolute ruling principle is the expression
of the positive ideas, beliefs, feelings and emotions that “flourish in the
courts of our God”, which are His ways and attributes that we strive to emulate
as the source of our plenitude.
This verse reminds us that we flourish only in goodness.
“Your
statutes stand firm. Sacredness adorns Your house, O Lord, forever.” (93:5)
God’s commandments, decrees, statutes and ordinances are the
firm foundation that delineates the purpose of goodness in the material world.
Thus
we realize that in order to grasp this, first we must fully assimilate goodness
in our consciousness where we also must stand firm. In this awareness we
realize the sacredness of goodness as the eternal splendor and beauty of God’s radiance
in His creation.
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