B"H

Thursday, Menachem Av 4, 5777 / July 27, 2017

Today is the fourth day of the nine daysin which we mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples. It is not by coincidence that the Temple Mount is much in the news these days…

The nine daysbegan Rosh Chodesh Av and end nine days later, after the fast of Tisha B’Av (the ninth of Av). During the nine dayswe refrain from indulging in pleasures, such as eating meat and drinking wine, except on Shabbat. We also do not perform weddings during these nine days and for close to two weeks before the nine days.

Q. For which particular sin was the first Temple destroyed?

A.Our sages tell us that the destruction of the First Temple came about because of the sin of idol worship throughout Israel at that time.

Q.For which sin was the second Temple destroyed?

A.For the sin of “unjust hatred” (sinat chinam) amongst the Jewish people.

The Talmud relates an episode to illustrate this point. One of the wealthy people of Jerusalem had a friend called Kamtza and a foe named Bar-Kamtza.  The wealthy man sent his servant to invite his friend Kamtza to a party, but the servant mistakenly invited his enemy, Bar-Kamtza.

When the host noticed Bar Kamtza at the party he ordered him to leave in front of everyone assembled at the party.

To avoid being embarrassed, Bar Kamtza offered to pay for his share of the meal.  When this wasn’t accepted, he offered to pay for half the party and then for the entire party, but was refused.  He was made to leave in view of everyone there with great embarrassment. This episode directly resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple, as told in the Talmud.

Q.Which of the two sins, idol worshipping or the hatred amongst each other, was a greater sin?

A.Our sages point out that the sin of hatred was greater in G-d’s eyes than the sin of idol worship. Their reasoning is that Jews returned from exile to rebuild the second Temple, only seventy years after going into the Babylonian exile. However, the destruction of the second Temple took place two thousand years agoand the Temple has still not been rebuilt!

This teaches us, that while G-d may tolerate and forgive for the gravest sin committed against Him (like idol worship), He does not forgive so fast for the sins committed one against another.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY