Musar su Geremia 31:8

When we consider all this we can understand a Midrash on the words: ועשו לי מקדש, which otherwise is difficult to understand. The Midrash quotes G–d as saying to Israel: "You are My flock, and I am your shepherd." This is based on Psalms 80,2: "Give ear, O shepherd of Israel." Construct a dwelling for the shepherd so that he can come and guard you. This is why the Torah says: "They shall make a Temple for Me and I shall dwell amongst them." G–d said to Israel: You are a vineyard, since we have a verse "For the house of Israel is a vineyard of the Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 5,7). I am the guard (of the vineyard) says G–d, for we have a verse telling us "the guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers" (Psalms 121,4). G–d said: "Make a hut for the watchman so that he will watch over you." G–d also said: "You are children and I am your father." We have a verse in Deut. 14,1: "You are children of the Lord your G–d." We also have a verse showing that G–d is our father, in Jeremiah 31,8: "For I have been a father to Israel." It is an honour for the father to be found near his children, and it is an honour for the children to be near their father, as we know from Proverbs 17,6: "Grandchildren are the crown of their elders. G–d said: "Make a Temple for Me!" Thus far the Midrash.

The Midrash quotes two verses to prove the relationship of the Jewish people as children of G–d as valid also during those times when these children are in exile and have been expelled by their Father from His table. Had the Midrash only quoted the first verse in which the Jewish people are described as G–d's children, we would have understood this as being merely an allegory, a term of endearment such as people are in the habit of applying to one another. If only the last verse in Jeremiah 31,8, in which G–d describes Himself as our Father, had been quoted, we would have thought that the meaning is that G–d watches over us and has pity on us just as a real father watches over his children and on occasion pities them. Still, if this is correct, we would have expected Jeremiah to say: כי הייתי לישראל אב instead of כי הייתי לישראל לאב. If the meaning of אב is that of an actual father, and the meaning of בנים in Deut. 14,1 is that Israel are actual children of G–d and He is their actual father, based on the Divine origin of our souls, then the expression לאב seems justified, for G–d was an actual father to us. Ever since we have gone into exile, however, we have become orphans without a real father. This would correspond to what we said before, that the children have been barred from the table of their father. In the future, however, G–d will again be a proper father, a role which G–d declares Himself as ready to assume as soon as His children return to Him as penitents. This is similar to the reply Elijah is quoted to have given the person who questioned him about the date of the redemption. He told his questioner: היום, אם בקולו תשמעו, "This very day, if you will hearken to His voice" (Psalms 95,6). This is the sentiment G–d expresses through Jeremiah 31,8 when He describes Himself as הייתי לישראל לאב, "I am always prepared to be a true father of Israel, just as I used to be."