Wednesday, Tammuz 28, 5779 / July 31, 2019

We are now in the Three Week period in which we mourn the destruction of the Temple. The Talmud relates two stories which took place soon after the destruction of the Second Temple, which illustrate how Rabbi Akiva was able to find solace even at the time and in the events of the destruction.

Once Rabbi Gamliel, Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariah, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Akiva were traveling to Rome.  From a distance, they already heard the noise and bustle of the city.  The other Rabbis began to weep, while Rabbi Akiva laughed. 

"Why are you laughing?" they asked.

"Why are you crying?" Rabbi Akiva responded.

"These people destroyed our Holy Temple and worship idols. Yet they are living peacefully, while our Holy Temple, the House of G-d, lies in ashes.. How can we not cry?"

"That is the reason I am laughing," answered Rabbi Akiva. "If people who transgress G-d's will receive such goodness, imagine how much more will G-d give those who obey His Torah and mitzvot!"

On another occasion, the four rabbis were walking to Jerusalem.  Upon reaching Mount Tzofim, they saw the site of the destroyed Holy Temple from the distance.  They tore their clothes in mourning, as Jewish law dictates.  Then they saw a fox roaming at the place where the Holy of holies was.  

Three of the rabbis began to weep, while Rabbi Akiva laughed.

"Why are you laughing?" they protested.

"Why are you crying?" Rabbi Akiva replied.

"We see the most holy spot of the Beth Hamikdash, where at one time no one except the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) could enter, and then only on Yom Kippur, now foxes are roaming there!   How can we not cry?"

Rabbi Akiva answered,  "This is the reason I am laughing!  When I see that the prophecies of destruction were fulfilled to the fullest, I am encouraged and confident that the prophecies of comfort, such as, 'There will come a time when old men and women will sit peacefully in the streets of Jerusalem' - which state that good times will come, will surely be fulfilled and come true."

The other rabbis said to Rabbi Akiva, "Akiva you have comforted us!  Akiva you have comforted us!"

The Talmud tells that Alexander the Great asked the sages, "Who is a wise person?" They replied, "One who sees the future!" Thus, as we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple we must also see the future - the coming of Moshiach when the Temple will be rebuild. May it be speedily in our days.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

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