Reply To: Short & Sweet

*Vayeira: A Shining Example*

How did Yerushalayim get its name? Rashi quotes a Medrash that Shem called the city שלם, while Avraham called it יראה immediately after the Akeida when he said בהר ה׳ יראה. Hashem combined both of these names into ירושלם.

Based on the writing of the Gra, R’ Aaron Lopiansky explains the meaning of this. Shem brought שלימות into the world – he was the last remaining link to Noach and Adam, and he bore the idea that there is one Hashem.

But Avraham was more than that. Avraham made the world see what it could be. At the time of the Akeida, Avraham’s actions showed the world what Avodas Hashem looks like in its most pristine form, how a human being could reach the level where all he cares about is doing what Hashem wants him to do.

R’ Aaron Lopiansky compares this to a mirror. The first thing you want in a mirror is for it to be complete – if it is broken or cracked, it will not function. But a mirror’s purpose is not just to be whole. It exists to reflect light – if it cannot do that, it is useless.

This is what Yerushalyim stands for: we must have not only a complete set of beliefs, but also shining ideals that guide us in all that we do.

לע״נ דוד חיים בן ישראל דוב הכהן
לע״נ ר׳ חיים דוב בן ר׳ בןציון שלום