Know Where You’re Headed

Know Where You’re Headed

Tevya’s dream as a “rich man” was to have a seat on the Eastern Wall.  It was the place of prestige because Jewish prayer always faces the east – toward Jerusalem.  This practice finds its roots in the time of the Babylonian Exile. In 586 BCE the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the leaders of the community.  We read in the Book of Daniel, who was among the exiles, that he “made windows facing Jerusalem, and three times a day he knelt down, prayed and made confession to his God.” (Daniel 6:11)  Daniel’s custom became common practice.  The Talmud (Berachot 30a) prescribes that one should pray facing Jerusalem and the Holy of Holies which stood at the core of the Temple.  Hence, most synagogues are built so the ark faces Jerusalem and that is where Tevya wanted to be.

Daniel’s custom remains common practice in many homes where a Mizrach is hung on the eastern wall. Mizrach, meaning "East", defines a decoration hung on the walls of the home or synagogue to indicate the preferred direction or orientation for prayer, i.e. facing east toward Jerusalem.

The home is a mikdash me’at, a small sanctuary.  One way we create that sanctuary is by marking the eastern wall as a way of encouraging prayer and an attitude of holiness within the home.  The Mizrach adds a small touch of holiness to your home.  Unconsciously it serves to orient you toward the Holy of Holies, and that awareness can remind you to bring an extra measure of holiness into your daily life. If you know the correct direction for your prayer, you always know which way you are headed. 

This is a chance to add beauty as well as a spiritual touch to your home.  You can find many beautiful Mizrach plaques for sale at any Jewish art gallery.  A Mizrach can be almost any kind of art – ceramic, oil painting, poster, paper cut, or wood carving.  Some are simple – just the Hebrew word brightly decorated.  Some are complex and esoteric, including Kabbalistic amulets or rabbinic references.  They offer a particular beauty as well as spiritual protection for your home.  Three examples are shown below, with citations of where they were found.

If you do not think of this as a shopping opportunity, you can make a Mizrach of your own.  It may have more personal meaning just because you took the time to design this reminder to bring holiness into your home.  Here are some ways you can design a meaningful Mizrach of your own. 

       1) Explore these four Hebrew letters and to make them uniquely your own.  Some artists have shaped the letters as animals or plants.  Some have decorated the letters with pictures of their favorite places. Could you make a Mizrach collage using photos from your most precious moments – the birth of your children, your wedding, your family travels, or the generations of your family?  The plaque would mark the holy direction of prayer, but also embrace the most sacred moments of your personal life.

       2) Paper cutting is a unique and exacting art that was developed to a remarkable degree by the Jews of Poland.  No matter how poor you were, you could find a piece of paper to work with.  Many examples of elaborate papercuts are found on the web.  You could create a pattern to surround the letters of the word Mizrach.  Your effort could extend this traditional art form into your family.

       3) Consider your favorite material.  Are you a baker, or a potter, or a wood worker?  Whatever medium fits you can be used to create a mizrach. And each medium will take on its own shape. 

A Mizrach adds a spiritual reminder to your home that this too is a place of prayer and holiness. If you know that, then you do know which way you are headed.