By Zalman Bin-Nun
“Gamliel! Fill the clay pitchers with sweet water, seal them with wax and load them on the donkey. We need to leave already!” Chananel ordered his young son. Gamliel hurried to fill the pitchers with clear water that he just drew from the deep well on the edge of the village.
Chananel went off to feed the donkey before the long trip. He put it in front of the broad trough that was in the stable and brought over a pile of grass so the donkey could enjoy both. As the donkey ate and drank, he cleaned the donkey’s hooves and with a heavy rock he smoothed out the crookedness that had developed over time.
The smell of baking wafted from the kitchen. Sarah, his good wife, was baking the crispy cookies that Gamliel liked and she made sure to pack them well in a strong cloth bag.
Dawn had broken and the Ben Asher family went to escort Chananel who was leaving with Gamliel, the oldest child. “May G-d protect you,” Sarah called emotionally as she watched the donkey which had already become a speck on the horizon.
The donkey made its way easily on the steep mountain paths. Its hooves beat rhythmically on the rocks of the Galil. Gamliel sat on the donkey in front, with his father sitting behind him, holding the reins and confidently directing the donkey to their destination.
In a twist in the road, as it merged with the main road, Gamliel and Chananel noticed many caravans. There were many animals with men and boys on their backs, laden with packages and the fine fruits with which Eretz Yisroel is praised.
The long journey came to an end after a tiring week. From the distance they could see a majestic mountain with a magnificent building on top. Gamliel jumped off the donkey excitedly. This was the first time he was going to Yerushalayim and the first time he was seeing the Beis HaMikdash in all its glory.
His amazement grew even greater when they arrived in Yerushalayim, left the donkey to rest in the yard of the inn, and headed for the Beis HaMikdash. Rows of Leviim stood and played beautiful music. A river of people flooded the entrances. They brought along kosher animals which would be slaughtered momentarily by an experienced group of Kohanim.
An atmosphere of holiness could be felt. Gamliel prayed with special intensity and felt a tremendous spiritual elevation which left its mark throughout the entire visit in Yerushalayim.
I closed the book with Gamliel’s story echoing in my head. I pictured the Beis HaMikdash in its glory, the singing of the Leviim, the avoda of the Kohanim, the caravans going up to Yerushalayim and the Bikkurim fruits that they carried with them. I tried to imagine feeling the special atmosphere and in my heart I felt a great longing to see the Beis HaMikdash.
My mother calling me roused me from my daydream and I went to the kitchen to eat supper. On the table was a surprise waiting for me, a closed envelope on which it said, “For dear Shimi.”
As my parents watched me with a secret smile on their faces, I opened the envelope and removed a paper folded into four. When I opened it, I momentarily stopped breathing. On the paper it said in big letters: An electronic ticket. It had my name on it, a departure date, and the main thing – the destination, to New York, to 770!
I shouted excitedly and gave my father a big hug. “We are leaving, G-d willing, next week, and I hope you are happy with the present we arranged in honor of your birthday,” he said.
The day arrived and I excitedly got into the taxi with my father and headed toward the airport. We met many other Lubavitchers and dozens of mekuravim who were all going to New York, to the Rebbe.
The flight was an experience. I learned a sicha and farbrenged with the elder Chassidim on the plane. We even sang “Tai’ere Brieder” when we landed, to the clapping of the tourists on the plane.
Then we were finally on Eastern Parkway. Before my astonished eyes, there was the familiar building, 770. I kissed the mezuza in the entrance and then went into the big zal.
There was the farbrengen bima and the Rebbe’s place, the shtender and chair on the raised platform near the chazan.
I davened my first t’filla in 770 with great excitement. I felt that I was in a special place and gaining strength for the rest of the year.
I thanked Hashem for the fabulous z’chus and knew that I would make use of every minute there until I had to return home.
The following afternoon, I sat with Levi, my counselor in camp, and learned a special sicha, Beis Rabbeinu Sh’B’Bavel. I understood how the Rebbe was explaining that in the time of galus there is the “main miniature Mikdash,” and that in our generation this is 770, and that soon, when the Beis HaMikdash is built and descends from heaven, it will first descend to 770 and then both will go to Yerushalayim. 770 will be attached to the Beis HaMikdash in the Geula.
I suddenly understood why I had felt the way I had and saw how the descriptions that I read in the book about Gamliel and his going to Yerushalayim were taking place before my eyes, here in 770.
I was pleased to see how in our special generation, the generation of Geula, we are already getting a taste of the future Mikdash, with the miniature Mikdash in the time of galus in 770.
It’s just incredible! To know who Moshiach is, to visit his shul, and to know that very soon we will merit his hisgalus and will see the third Beis HaMikdash!
And you children too can ask your parents about 770 and hear stories and look at pictures and videos, and experience the special Mikdash we have in galus. And who knows … maybe you will also be there for Tishrei. May we all merit to travel together to the Geula shleima.