This week’s parsha is parshas Lech Lecha. We are going to focus on the name "ירושלים", which HKB”H chose as the name for His royal residence. This name combines the name "שלם" given to it by Shem the son of Noach and the name "יראה" given to it by Avraham Avinu at the Akeidah. HKB”H then added the letter “yud” to this name, since it is the first letter of the sacred name Havaya.
We will begin to shed some light on the subject by examining a passuk in this week’s parsha (Bereishis 14, 18): "ומלכי צדק מלך שלם הוציא לחם ויין והוא כהן לאל עליון"—and Malkitzedek, King of Shaleim, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of G-d, the Most High.
In his commentary, Rashi cites an aggadic Midrash: “Malkitzedek”—He is Shem the son of Noach. “Bread and wine”—this is what they would do for those who were exhausted from battle. Thus, he showed him (Avram) that he did not resent him for having killed his children (Kedarlaomer King of Eilam was a descendant of Shem). And an aggadic Midrash says that he hinted to him about the (korban) “minchahs” and the libations that would be offered there by his descendants.
The source for this comment is found in the Midrash (B.R. 43, 6): Rabbi Shmuel said: He (Malkitzedek) revealed the halachos of the Kohen Gadol to him (Avram). “Bread” alluded to the “lechem hapanim”; “wine” alluded to the wine libations (that accompanied various korbanos). And the Rabbis said: He (Malkitzedek) revealed aspects of the Torah to him (Avram), as it states (Mishlei 9, 5): “Come and partake of my bread and drink of the wine that I have mixed.” (In this passuk, bread and wine are metaphors for the Torah.) Shem the son of Noach, who was the King of Shaleim, which is Yerushalayim, the future site of the Beis HaMikdash, revealed these halachos to Avraham Avinu, since the future avodah of the kohanim would be performed there.
