Kadkod Stones: A Sermon For Rosh Hashana Eve

By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman

September 18, 2020

In 1967, Israel’s most famous song writer, Naomi Shemer, wrote “Jerusalem of Gold,” a song that within weeks became wildly popular all over the world. The lyrics are rich in Biblical and Rabbinic allusions, but at the same time refer to the colors that reflect off Jerusalem’s famous white stones at dawn and at dusk, the light painting the city in rich hues of copper and gold.

This glow, however, wasn’t always there. After the Babylonian destruction in 586 BCE, and then again after the year 70 CE, when the Roman legions burnt the city, Jerusalem was a heap of ruins, covered in a mournful blanket of ash and debris. It stood that way for nearly 2000 years, more a dream or a vision than anything resembling its former glory.

The prophet Isaiah, in offering comfort to his people, spoke of the wonders and grandeur of a rebuilt Jerusalem in days to come. The streets would be paved with sapphires, he prophesied, and the walls inlaid with precious stones. There would be no need for artificial illumination, and even the sun and the moon would pale next to the splendor that would shine from deep inside the precious stones.

In these prophecies, Isaiah mentions by name half a dozen gems and precious stones—all of which I am sure the people of his time recognized, but which, over the years, were renamed several times over, so that the references are no longer as clear as they once were. Over the centuries, commentators, linguists and editors have done their best to identify these gems, but in the end these explanations remain no more than guesses and conjectures.

In one of my favorite Midrash stories, a famous Talmudic scholar of the 3rd century, Rabbi Joshua ben Levi—was walking along the Carmel Mountain when he came upon the Prophet Elijah. “Master,” exclaimed Rabbi Joshua, “won’t you show me the gems called kadkod, which, according to Isaiah, will illuminate Jerusalem in the Days-To-Come?” Elijah agrees to the request and sets up a miracle in order to show them to Rabbi Joshua.

As it happened, at that very moment, a merchant ship was about to set sail, carrying casks of wine and spices to far off lands. All its sailors were heathens, but there was among them one young Jewish lad. Elijah appeared to the boy and said to him, “I need you to run an errand for me. In three days’ time, a great storm will arise, and the boat will founder and begin to sink. You can save it, however, along with all who are aboard it.” “How?” asked the boy.  “By diving down to the bottom of the sea,” answered Elijah. “There I will show you kadkod stones. You will need to take them and show them to Rabbi Joshua ben Levi. Only don’t show him the stones in public. Take him to a cave that is three miles away.” “But,” protested, the boy, “Rabbi Joshua is the most famous scholar in the world! Why would he follow me?” Elijah responded, “Yes, he is a great scholar, but he will follow you because he is well known for his humility.” 

Despite his fear and misgivings, the boy agreed to go on the mission, and sure enough, just as foretold, a great storm arose at mid-sea and the ship began to take on water. When a great wave suddenly appeared, the boy let it sweep him into the swirling water. He felt himself drawn into the dark depths, but just as he began to lose hope, he saw a great light shining. With the last of his strength he swam to the sea floor, where he saw stones that glowed with such brilliance that they caused light to shine all around them. Putting a few in his pocket, he prayed to God to be rescued and felt himself being drawn up and back to safety again.  Within moments he found himself on shore again, and he immediately set out to find Rabbi Joshua ben Levi.

The famous scholar was seated on his chair in the great academy of Lydda, teaching the very chapter in the book of Isaiah wherein the prophet spoke of the gems that would provide light for the days to come. “I have something to show you,” said the lad. “But you have to follow me, for so I have been instructed.”

Without a word, the great rabbi rose and followed the boy a distance of three miles, to a cave few people knew about. There the boy took the stones out of his pocket and handed them to Rabbi Joshua. Immediately the stones began to glow brilliantly. Rabbi Joshua’s eyes filled with tears, and he was so shaken that his hands began to tremble, and the stones fell to the ground, where they immediately disappeared. At that moment, the boy and the teacher heard a voice calling out, “Light is sown for the righteous.” Just as suddenly, the earth began to tremble and they barely had time to escape before a rockslide sealed the entrance to the cave, and it is still so to this very day.

Like all legends, this beautiful story has a kernel of truth. Like the hero in the midrash, we too have a task—to find the hidden precious stones. But there is no mysterious cave: they are actually right there, in plain sight. We only have to open our eyes to find them in our traditions; in old, worn-out prayerbooks; in prayers and blessings we say over candles, wine and sweet challah bread. 

We see their glow when we bring our children to religious school and raise them to become b’nai mitzvah—when, like Rabbi Joshua ben Levi, our eyes, too, fill with tears. 

When we teach or study words of Torah, the very letters on the parchment begin to glow. 

When we support one another and the community that we are part of; when we set aside food or clothing for the needy; when we remember those who are no longer with us and recall, with gratitude, the love and caring they had once shared with us, we bring light even into the darkest room.  

The foods we eat on our holy days, the music that makes our souls dance, the art with which we decorate our homes, and above all, our sacred texts—all these contain the precious lights of which Isaiah spoke, and which we are asked to bring to our darkened world to make it better. 

And that is why we are here tonight. Because tonight, Jews all over the world are hearing the shofar’s call, and together we remember the mission we accepted so long ago. Like the boy in the midrash story, when we overcome our fears, when we let faith and hope guide us, we can search for—and find—those elusive kadkod stones, and with their glow we can bring light to the darkness that at times seems to overwhelm the world. 

Much of our ancient nation’s capital of Jerusalem has now been rebuilt. Much more still lies buried underground. As Naomi Shemer’s song, “Jerusalem of Gold,” reminds us, the sun’s glow again reflects brilliantly off the city’s historic walls, as well as from the many new and modern buildings that have come up within its bounds. Yet we are still far from those radiant days of which Isaiah prophesied. The legendary kadkod stones still are hidden, still waiting for those who are fearless and faithful enough to find them. May we be among those who, stirred by deeds of righteousness and compassion, will set the brilliant gems high on posts along the path to the wondrous day of which the prophet spoke, a time when “All your children shall be taught by Adonai, and great shall be the peace of your children.” 

© 2020 by Boaz D. Heilman