No Place

When I lived in Israel, I loved to travel to the Galilee, which, beside its natural beauty, is dotted with many places of historical and religious significance. Among these, are many tombs of Biblical and Talmudic figures. I have discussed in a previous post the fact that although some are opposed to the practice of praying at holy graves, many others (including yours truly) see great significance in these visits. (Those curious can do a search on this site) My most profound moments of feelings of both spirituous heights, and decent into the depths of what needs to be "fixed", have occurred during such moments. Among the graves I would most often frequent, was one that is little known to most people. It is of the Talmudic rabbi, Rabbi Yirmiyah (4th century). His tomb is marked in the middle of a modern hotel parking lot. It is fenced in, with a small cupola above. I spent many meaningful hours there in meditation and prayer. Why do I have this special feeling for him and that place? Here is the story.

Rabbi Yirmiyah lived in Babylon. He was a respected member of the rabbinic community there. But there was a problem. He asked "too many questions'. He would analyse statements of his colleagues, probing deeper and deeper, trying to assess all the implications of a statement. He would pose questions which his friends often considered overly defined, or even "strange". The most unusual step was taken of banning him from the meeting place of the rabbis! The door was closed! Eventually he was readmitted, but soon migrated to the Holy Land, where he became one of the most central figures of the Jerusalem Talmud. The great Kabbalist, Rabbi Isaac Luria (the ARI), made a remarkable comment. He said that, because of the indignity he suffered by being kept out of the gates of study, he is now the gate keeper in Paradise. No one gets in, unless he is okayed by Rabbi Yirmiyah! Perhaps it is fitting that he has an unassuming burial place, which has become a parking lot. His greatness and humility were not to be fathomed by most people. But G-d knows.
A similar idea to this was expressed by Rabbi Yitzchak Meir of Gur. Commenting on the Biblical command to have Cities of Refuge for accidental killers, where we read "I shall make for you a place where you will flee...", said the Rabbi of Gur "You feel that you have no place? You are condemned by all men? Then I shall make for you a place".
Don't we all feel like that at times? We have no place. No one knows. No one cares. No one understands. But G-d makes for us a place. We do belong. Even if the gates have been locked, G-d makes for us a refuge. We can begin again. Maybe we will be leaders, as Rabbi Yirmiyah became, maybe we will remain unrecognized by all but G-d.But we will have a place. After all, one of the Hebrew Names of G-d is "HaMakom" (the Place).