Jew On This!

Though most of you probably didn't read my first version of Parsha Interpretation in fact, I tried and I got it wrong. Don't chalk it up to ignorance, more like misinformation. Either way, it sparked an interesting discussion between me and a friend, who seems to me a great deal more educated on the subjects of Torah and Hashem.

Please enjoy her blog http://www.dinadoesbrooklyn.blogspot.com or simply attempt to muddle through mine! ;-)

I attempted to compare a passage in this week's Parsha that said the Israelites turned themselves East towards Jerusalem to the idea that we turn the very same way when we daven. This is in fact the case, however, I failed to mention that we only turn in this direction because we are west of Jerusalem. Thus, my witty title to the piece, East of Eden, does not apply. Depending on where you live, when davening, you can also turn west, north, and south as long as its toward our temple in the holy city.

I thought that this mention of turning East was the very first mention of the idea that all Jews are supposed to turn East (when in fact its only all Jews west of Jerusalem!) My friend kindly informed me, without making me feel silly, that the custom of facing East came to be, not because of this passage, but because in her words, "the Shechinah (Divine Presence) rests in the Beis HaMikdah (what was once the 2nd tempe but now remains the Western Wall) so we pray towards the Beis HaMikdash." They didn't build the temple in a particular direction, we just happen to be west of Jerusalem and so we face East to daven to it.

"The thing about facing east in the parsha," she continued, "was telling them to turn East because Hashem was basically giving them directions on how to walk the borders of Israel to map it out. Turning east is not the special part. It's turning toward Jerusalem that is special."

Knock some Jewish sense into me!

And thank you for not making me feel silly!!

I hope your Shabbos is as enjoyable and relaxing as mine will be now that I am truly touched.