Midrash sobre Jeremias 2:18

Rabbi Avin began: “He changes the times and the seasons” (Daniel 2:21) – Rabbi Yirmeya said to Israel: Had you been worthy, you would have been sitting in Jerusalem and drinking the clean, sweet Shiloaḥ waters. Now that you have not been worthy, you are exiled to Babylon and drinking the murky, rancid waters of the Euphrates. That is what is written: “Now, what is there for you on the way to Egypt, to drink water of Shiḥor? And what is there for you on the way to Assyria, to drink water of the River?” (Jeremiah 2:18).⁵⁴The reference is to the Euphrates River, which the exiles would have crossed on their way to Babylon or to Assyria. Had you been worthy, you would have been sitting in Jerusalem and reciting songs and psalms before the Holy One blessed be He; now that you have not been worthy, you are exiled to Babylon and reciting lamentations and wailing; that is: “By the rivers of Babylon, [there we sat and also wept]” (Psalms 137:1), eikha.

... Teach us o teacher: toward where should one who prays orient his heart? This is what our Rabbis taught: one should orient his heart toward the place of the Holy of Holies (Berachot 4:5). R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov says: if one is praying outside of the land, he should orient his heart to the land of Israel. If one is praying within the land of Israel, he should orient his heart to Jerusalem. If one is praying in Jerusalem, he should orient his heart to the Holy Temple. If one is praying in the Holy Temple, he should orient his heart to the Holy of Holies. R’ Avin the Levi said: “our neck is like the Tower of David, built as a model (talpiyot)…” (Song of Songs 4:4) What does talpiyot mean? The hill (tel) toward which all turns (peniyot) are directed. And after all this praise, it is written “Open your doors, O Lebanon, and let the fire consume your cedars.” (Zechariah 11:1) And so too they said “He has hurled fire into my bones…” (Lamentations 1:13) Israel said to Him: Master of the World! How long will it be like this? Did You not write in Your Torah “…the one who ignited the fire shall surely pay” (Exodus 22:5)? And You are the one who ignited the fire, as it says “From above He has hurled fire into my bones…” (Lamentations 1:13) You need to rebuild it and to console us, not at the hands of an angel but You in Your glory. The Holy One said to them: by your life, so I will do! As it says “The Lord is the builder of Jerusalem; He will gather the outcasts of Israel.” (Psalms 147:2) And I am the one who consoles you. From where do we learn this? From that which they read in the prophets “I, yea I am He Who consoles you…” (Isaiah 51:12)