It’s a very human feeling, and it’s one that resonates powerfully in a story told in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms.
Psalm 122, "A Song of Ascents. Of David," opens with rejoicing: "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord!'" But as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi points out, the story behind the verse is far more nuanced.
Imagine David, King of Israel. He hears whispers, impatient murmurs: "When will that old man die, so that his son Solomon can come and build the chosen Temple, and we can go up for the pilgrimage feast?" Ouch. Talk about feeling your mortality! It's the impatience of a generation eager for progress, for a new era.
But the Holy One, Baruch Hu, blessed be He, responds to David. "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere," God says, according to the Midrash. "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." The message? It is better to spend one day engaged in the study of Torah than to offer a thousand burnt offerings in the Temple that your son Solomon will sacrifice in the future. It's a fascinating prioritization: learning and devotion over grand, future projects.
The story doesn't end there. The Midrash continues, "There is no generation that does not have scoffers." Those troublemakers, the ones always stirring the pot, they go to David's windows, taunting, "David, when will the Temple be rebuilt, and when will we go to the house of the Lord?" Can you feel the sting of their words?
Yet, David's response is remarkable. "Even though they intend to anger me," he says, "they will come upon me with joy, for I rejoice when they say, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'" He sees the yearning beneath the impatience, the genuine desire for connection and spiritual fulfillment.
The Midrash then shifts to Jerusalem, the built-up city, described as "a city that is united together." Rabbi Yochanan shares a powerful idea: The Lord says, "I will not come to the heavenly Jerusalem until I come to the earthly Jerusalem." It's as if the divine presence is inextricably linked to the earthly city, to the tangible reality of our lives. There is no other Jerusalem above. As it is written, "Jerusalem, the built-up city, is like a city that is united together," meaning a city that unites all of Israel together, according to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi.
Raba, citing Rav Ada and Rav, adds a thought-provoking idea about marriage: "Anyone who takes a wife who is not fitting for him, the Lord does not bear witness about him with the tribes." It’s a cryptic statement, linking personal choices to the larger communal fabric.
The text even touches upon the Israelites in Egypt, highlighting their moral integrity. How do we know they were not suspected of immorality? As it is stated, "And the son of the Israelite woman went out" (Leviticus 24:10), calling attention to the exception that proves the rule. As explained in Kabbalah, Song of Songs 4:12 says, "My sister, my bride, is a locked garden."
Rabbi Aha connects it all back to Jerusalem: "Jerusalem is not built except by virtue of the tribes." And it is adjacent to that which is stated, "For there the tribes went up" (Psalms 122:4), for there the thrones for judgment were set up to judge the Gentile nations.
So, what does it all mean? This Midrash on Psalm 122 is a tapestry woven with themes of patience, yearning, community, and the divine connection to the earthly. It reminds us that even in our impatience, in our desire for a better future, we must appreciate the present moment, the value of study and devotion, and the importance of building a united community. It’s a call to find joy in the journey, even when the destination seems distant.
And ultimately, it’s a reminder to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you be at peace," because, as the sages teach us, "Sages increase peace in the world, as it is stated, 'And all your children shall be taught of the Lord' (Isaiah 54:13)." For my brothers and friends, I will speak of peace in you.