Jerusalem of Above and Below

"God will not come to the heavenly Jerusalem until there is holiness in the midst of earthly Jerusalem."
(Rashi commentary on Ta'anit 5a)

Jerusalem of Above and Below

Yerushalayim Shel Malah and Yerushalayim Shel Mata

Jewish tradition speaks of two Jerusalems: Yerushalayim shel malah, the spiritual, heavenly Jerusalem, and Yerushalayim shel mata, the earthly Jerusalem. Rabbi Jill Jacobs teaches: "In Yerushalayim shel malah, God is visible, suffering is absent and there is perfection. In Yerushalayim shel mata, real people struggle with deep political, religious and personal conflict. In Yerushalayim shel mata, perfection remains elusive."

• More on Yerushalayim shel malah and Yerushalayim shel mata from Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Executive Director of T'ruah.
  
  
• Text study on Yerushalayim shel malah and Yerushalayim shel mata (Facilitator Guide) (Participants' Copy)

 

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