The Talmud relates a profoundly strange incident that occurred moments before the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple: “When the pagans entered the Holy Temple, they saw the cherubs (the two golden winged figures, one male and one female located in the "Holy of Holies") cleaving to each other. They took them out to the streets and said: ‘These Jews ... is this what they occupy themselves with?’ With this, they debased [the Jewish people], as it is written: ‘All who had honored her have despised her, for they have seen her nakedness.’”

This seems strange. The Talmud also teaches that when the relationship between G-d and Israel was sour, the two faces of the cherubs turned away from each other, as when spouses are angry with each other. When the relationship was healthy, the two faces of the cherubs would face each other.

Yet when the enemies of Israel invaded the Temple to destroy it, and the relationship between G-d and His people was at its lowest possible point, precisely at that moment the cherubs were intertwined, symbolizing the most profound relationship between G-d and Israel. How are we to understand this?

This class explores six different perspectives.