מנחות ה

R’ שלום מקאמינקא and a group of his חסידים were staying at a village inn. When it was time to pray מנחה, the רבי asked the innkeeper where is מזרח? The innkeeper thought that the רבי was asking where is the מזרח sign that many homeowners would hang on the wall. He told the רבי that its למעלה, meaning to say that for some reason the sign had been taken off of the wall and placed in the attic. The חסידים erupted in laughter, but the רבי immediately quieted them down, telling them that the innkeeper said a great thing. The reason for praying towards מזרח is, of course, because we are מכוון in the direction of the בית המקדש. But ever since the בית המקדש was destroyed, we have only the בית המקדש של מעלה and therefore we need to be מכוון our hearts כנגד לשמים that is the בית המקדש. Thus, the innkeeper was correct; מזרח is למעלה.

06/10/2021