Meshech Chochma: Yerushlayim, The City Of Perfection
“Yerushalayim built up, like a city which is knit together” (Tehillim 122:2). The very name Yerushalayim alludes to the dual aspects of the city because as the Rabbeinu Bachaye explains, Yerushalayim is plural, like einayim or oznayim.
Yerushalayim received it name through Avraham Avinu and Shem ben Noach. The history behind the name of Yerushalayim alludes to its significance. "Avraham called it [the place] 'Yir'eh,' as it is written, 'Avraham called the name of that place Hashem Yir'eh.' Shem called it 'Shalem,' as it is written, 'Malki-Tzedek, King of Shalem.' The Holy One said: If I call the place 'Yir'eh,' as Avraham called it, then Shem – a righteous man – will be offended. If I call it 'Shalem,' then Avraham – a righteous man – will be offended. So I shall call it "Yerushalayim," as both of them called it: [Yir'eh] Shalem –Yerushalayim."
The Meshech Chochmah elaborates on this and says that Shem had survived the Dor Hamabul, which was a generation so corrupt that it was utterly destroyed. Shem was in the Teivah where he helped sustain all the animals. By doing this, he was helping to repair the corruption and negative characteristics which had pervaded the world. His main challenge was the perfection and completion of the character. Shem sensed this aspect of completion in Yerushalayim and therefore called it Shalem.
Avraham Avinu was the one who independently discovered Hashem by exploring all of the knowledge available to him, rejecting what was false, and then concluding through his own intellect that Hashem exists. His main challenge was clarifying and perfecting his mind through the knowledge of Hashem. He called Yerushalayim, Hashem Yir’eh because it is the place where all of mankind will recognize Hashem as he first did.
Hashem combined these two names because the two concepts of the perfection of the mind and the character (or heart) are both essential to Bnei Yisrael, and thus, to the city of Yerushalayim, where true perfection can be achieved.
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