B"H
Friday, Tammuz 18, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / July 7, 2023
The Hebrew calendar is filled with historical events which we commemorate throughout the year. Some dates celebrate happy events which happened to our people. Others recall times of difficulty and tragedy experienced by our forefathers.
We are now in the midst of the “Three Weeks,” which commemorate one of the saddest events in Jewish history. During these Three Weeks, which began yesterday, July 6th and ends, Thursday, July 27th, we remember/mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples.
Remembering the destruction of the Temple plays an important role in a Jew's everyday life. In each of the daily prayers, we ask G-d for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. On the happiest occasion, at the marriage ceremony, the groom breaks a glass under the Chupah to recall the destruction of the Temple.
Every religious event teaches us a lesson, as the name "Torah" ("teaching") implies. Remembering a particular date of the past, according to Torah, teaches us how we should act in the present.
Our sages explain that during these “Three Weeks” a person should reflect on what caused the destruction of the Temple. Understanding the reasons for the destruction of the Temples, will help us understand how to correct the situation so that we may merit the rebuilding of the Temple in our time.
The First Temple was destroyed as a result of idol worship, when the Jewish people turned away from G-d. The Second Temple was destroyed when people turned against each other, breaking the commandment of "Love your fellow as yourself."
During the days of the Temple, G-dliness was presented in an open and revealed form. With the destruction of the Holy Temple, G-dliness is in a state of "hiding" and miracles do not occur in a revealed manner as then. As a result, seeing G-dliness and experiencing holiness takes much more effort.
Rabbi Baruch of Mezibush once found his young son crying. "Why are you crying?" Rabbi Baruch asked. "My friends and I were playing hide & seek. When it was my turn to hide, I hid but after a long time, I realized that they stopped looking for me! They forgot about me!" the child replied sobbingly.
Rabbi Baruch calmed the child and then said, "This is exactly what G-d is crying about. He also hid from us, as a result of our sins, but the purpose of His hiding is so that we shall search and seek Him. G-d promised that if we search, we will find Him. G-d cries, “Why we forgot the reason for His hiding and stopped looking for Him?”
The “Three Weeks” is a time to increase our performance of mitzvot, especially in the mitzvot of “Love your fellow as yourself,” giving charity and performing acts of goodness. Through these mitzvot we make amends for the sins which caused the destruction of the Temple and through these mitzvot we shall “find G-d” and thus He will hasten the ultimate redemption and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, with the coming of Moshiach. Amen.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:27 / Shabbat ends: 9:42