Yeshiva
Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Bechukotai
The end of our pasuk seems to give a metaphorical clarification for that which its beginning raises – the Exodus. By taking us out of slavery, Hashem was breaking the yoke that represents slavery. In other words, not only was the yoke removed, but it was never to be used again. This ostensibly cleared the way for a next stage – leading us komemiyut. Unkelus translates komemiyut as to freedom, which explains the previous metaphor. This may also be the source for the understanding of those who named that crucial war, Milchemet Hakomemiyut (The War of Freedom).
Other opinions in Chazal assume komemiyut continues to describe the nation metaphorically. Some say (see Bava Batra 75a) it is a combination of two words – koma (height) me’at (either 100 or 200 amot). While we have no indication this was literally true, it hints at great stature with which Hashem provided us. We can maintain that stature by avoiding the great sins that precipitate the curses our parasha moves on to discuss. Rashi, based on midrashim in several places, talks of standing erect, and the midrashim continue that the people were not afraid of any living thing. This is also apparently connected to the root of koma, embedded in komemiyut, but instead of referring to height, it refers to posture and the frame of mind it represents.
Another possible direction is to relate it to the most similar words found in Tanach, the verb lekomem (see Yeshaya 44:26; ibid. 58:12; Micha 2:8). The consensus is that this verb means to establish (which captures the idea of the ’48 war, as well), like the similar word lehakim.
One of the reasons to want to understand this word is that we use it every morning in the beracha before Kri’at Shema: "Bring us in peace from the four corners of the world and lead us komemiyut to our Land." Are we asking to be brought in freedom to our Land, like Unkelus? Do we want to be tall or erect (figuratively) when we come and not have to sneak in under the eyes of the Turkish, British, or whomever? Do we want to come in such a way that we are able to be established here – permanently, as part of a great building process? I imagine that for most of us, the answer is – let’s request all of them, and thank Hashem that we have merited to have made nice progress already.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Hosha'ana Rabba FLYDUBAI & HOSHANA RABBA- ANI VAHU HOSHIA NA- I & HIM SAVE US
"Ani vaHu Hoshia Na", "I and Him, Save Us". We don't just pray to Him, but we also pray to and for ourselves that we should emulate and educate our children to have that instinctive altruism with which He created the world. President Trump seemed amused about Yaniv Hayon, our PLUMBER who confidently worked with G-d like Superman (he learned from a pilot on a TV show!) to save 174 lives on the Dubai hijacking, but we in Israel are totally accustomed already 78 years to our plumbers, teachers, garbage-men, rabbis, farmers & doctors being Hashem's shlichim! This is what Zionism is about.
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part I
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Our King on Rosh Hashana, Our Father on Yom Kippur.
Based on Aroch Siach, p. 221 (Rav Shaul Yisraeli)
