בס”ד
This week’s Parsha “Vayigash” tells of Joseph’s revelation to his brothers after the brothers were willing to give up their lives for their brother Benjamin. This act fixed the sin of selling Joseph to Egypt. When Joseph became aware of Benjamin his brother, the Torah says: “And he fell on the necks of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his necks.” What did they both weep about? The Gemara says that Joseph wept over the two Temples that would be in the part of the tribe of Benjamin and would be destroyed, and Benjamin wept over the Tabernacle of Shiloh, which was a portable Temple that would be in the part of Joseph’s and would be destroyed.
The neck, symbolizes the Temple as a point of connection between heaven and earth, between the Divine and the physical. Like the neck, the Temple transmits Divine light, from the spiritual world to the physical world, influencing all people.
The analogy of the Temple to a “neck” emphasizes its role as a vehicle for transmitting Divine vitality from the head to the body, from heaven to earth. The weeping over the neck shows the mutual pain of the destruction at the point of connection that allows the spread of the Divine light in the world. This shows how important the Temple is. Not only to Jews but to all people, since it serves as a place where G-d is present and influences all creatures in the world.
This theme is also related to Noahides, it shows the importance of the Temple as a point of connection between the infinite Creator and our limited world, not only for the people of Israel but for all of humanity. Noahides were commanded to keep their seven commandments, they are also influenced by the Divine light that originates in the Holy Temple.
However, in the era of redemption, the Third Temple will be built in Jerusalem and will exist forever. This Temple will be greater than the two Temples that preceded it in every way. Therefore, the level of Divine abundance will also be expressed both in the materiality of the world and in spirituality through new revelations of the knowledge of God that will then be available to all of humanity.
Source: Likutei Sichos vol. 10 page 146.
By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein
If you want more questions for contemplation, SEE THE OTHER BLOGS FROM RABBI MOSHE BERNSTEIN
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