It's more than just a feeling. Our tradition teaches us it's literally built on the border between two tribal territories: Benjamin and Judah.
But how can that be? We read in Genesis (Bereshit) 49:10, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah." Doesn’t that imply the seat of power, the Temple, should be firmly within Judah's territory? It's a question that's occupied Jewish thinkers for centuries.
The Sifrei Devarim (a legal midrash on the Book of Deuteronomy) offers a beautiful explanation. It tells us that the Temple is built in the portion of Benjamin, but it extends, "like the head of an ox," into the portion of Judah. Think of it as Benjamin providing the foundation, the very ground upon which holiness rests.
And where do we find this alluded to in scripture? "And between his (Benjamin's) shoulders... does it (the Temple) rest." This verse, says the Sifrei Devarim, speaks of a slight depression on the highest part of Benjamin's land, the perfect spot for the Temple.
So, what about Judah? The Sifrei clarifies that the "scepter" mentioned in Genesis refers to the lishkat hagazit, the Chamber of Hewn Stone, a crucial part of the Temple complex where the Sanhedrin (high court) would convene. This chamber, according to the Sifrei, was indeed located within the portion of Judah.
Psalm 78:67-68 reinforces this idea: "And He rejected the tent of Joseph and did not choose the tent of Ephraim. He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loves." Here, Mount Zion, associated with the Davidic line and therefore Judah, is explicitly chosen.
But hold on, doesn't that contradict the idea of the Temple being in Benjamin's territory? Not necessarily.
Remember, we're talking about a border, a place where two territories meet. And the Sifrei subtly points us to another layer of meaning, referencing Rachel's burial place: "And Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Efrath, which is Bethlehem" (Genesis 35:19). Rachel was Benjamin's mother, and her presence, even in death, connects Benjamin to the very land upon which the Temple would eventually stand.
So, what does it all mean? Perhaps it’s a reminder that true holiness arises from the union of different strengths, different perspectives. Judah, representing kingship and law, and Benjamin, providing the foundation and connection to the land. It's a partnership, a sacred collaboration that allows the Divine Presence to dwell among us.
Isn't it amazing how a seemingly simple question about land ownership can lead us to such profound insights about unity and the nature of holiness itself? Next time you think about Jerusalem, remember the ox's head, stretching across boundaries, uniting two tribes in a shared sacred space.