The Secret of the Hidden Light: The True Path to Restore Lost Souls
Lesson No. 174 | * Sunday, Parashas Va'eira, the Eve of 23 Teves 5759 - Awakening Gathering in Netanya
A fascinating article explaining the spiritual destiny of the city of Netanya as a center of song and Geulah (Redemption), and from there diving into the depth of the Torah perspective on crime and punishment. Through the story of King Solomon and Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, it is revealed that the purpose of the Torah is not to punish, but rather to illuminate the soul of every Jew, even one who has descended to the lowest level.
There is a great light in the world, the light called "Nachman Natan," and this is the greatest light that exists. The more a great darkness and tremendous obscurity descends upon the world, the more the light of the city of Netanya will begin to shine. This city is destined to become a mother city in Israel, and it will continue to expand until it spreads throughout the entire Land of Israel.
The name "Netanya" holds tremendous secrets within it. Its meaning is "Natan Y-H" (Hashem gave) – this is the gift of Hashem. This is hinted at in the word "Va'eschanan" (and I pleaded). When Moshe Rabbeinu prayed day and night for seven days, he said "Va'eschanan."
"And I pleaded with Hashem at that time, saying" (Devarim 3:23).
The word "Va'eschanan" has the exact same gematria (numerical value) as "Netanya" (515). The prayers of Moshe Rabbeinu were for Netanya.
Furthermore, "Netanya" in gematria equals the word "Shirah" (song). The entire essence of this city is a song to Hashem. Here is the center of song, here the "Song of God" will be sung, and here Moshe Rabbeinu will sing his song – "Az Yashir Moshe" (Then Moshe sang). From Netanya, all the song, all the melodies, and all the dancing will go out to the Jewish people. The dancing here will be dancing for the sake of Hashem, the God of Israel, for the sake of King David, and the entire city will awaken from this song.
Another secret is hidden in the number 515. "Netanya" has the same gematria as the names of the two greatest angels: the angel Metatro"n (314) and the angel Yofie"l (201). Together, they perfectly complete 515. This is the secret of the city – a place of angels, where everyone will become holy angels. From here, we will merit the true Geulah (Redemption) and the coming of Mashiach ben David, in the blink of an eye.
The Superhuman Vision of King Solomon
The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 24b) discusses the greatness of King Solomon. Solomon ruled from one end of the world to the other, and he had an eagle that would fly with him beyond the Mountains of Darkness, all the way to India, to bring back diamonds and precious stones. Nothing was hidden from the eyes of King Solomon. He was the wisest of all men, and in his wisdom, he even surpassed Moshe Rabbeinu.
From his clear vision, in which he saw from one end of the world to the other, King Solomon turned and asked permission from Hashem: "I see all the murderers, I see all the thieves. Allow me to judge them, allow me to catch them."
But the answer of Hashem was unequivocal:
"By the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall a matter be established" (Devarim 19:15).
Hashem said to Solomon: "Even though you see from one end of the world to the other, and even though you know with certainty who the criminals, thieves, and murderers are – you have no permission to judge any person without two witnesses."
The Purpose of the Torah: To Illuminate, Not to Punish
Along these lines, Rabbi Akiva said that if he had sat on the Sanhedrin (High Court), he would never have sentenced any person to death or imprisonment. He would not have judged them and would not have put them in prison. Why? Because the purpose of the Torah is not to put thieves in prisons. The true purpose is to open up the light for them.
When one sees a person who has committed a crime, one must understand their background. Perhaps they grew up in a distressed neighborhood? Perhaps they lived during a time of famine? Perhaps they were abandoned to their own devices, their parents did not care for them, and they were left to the mercy of the streets?
The holy Zohar and the Gemara tell us about severe phenomena that occurred in the past, when children were stolen and led into the world of crime. Even the descendants of the greatest Tanna'im (Mishnaic sages) fell there. The grandson of Rabbi Chiya, the grandson of Rabbi Tarfon, and even the son of Rabbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon – the grandson of the Godly Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai! We all know who the Rashb"i is; we all travel on Lag BaOmer and throughout the entire year to prostrate ourselves at his holy tziyun (gravesite). And yet, his grandson strayed to an evil path and became a severe criminal.
Restoring the Soul to Every Jew
What did Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi do when the situation of those holy descendants who fell into crime became clear to him? He did not sit idly by, and he certainly did not turn to the law enforcement authorities. Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, who also saw from one end of the world to the other, went himself to the slums and the distressed neighborhoods to search for them.
He found them, but did not hand them over to the police. The Torah does not seek to build prisons; rather, it wants to send the light of the soul to each and every person. The ultimate goal is to restore the soul to every Jew, wherever he may be, and to reawaken the Divine spark within him.
Part 3 of 4 — Lesson No. 174