B"H

Thursday, Tammuz 26, 5784 / August 1, 2024

We are now in the midst of the “Three Weeks,” which commemorates one of the saddest events in Jewish history.  During these Three Weeks (which began Tuesday, July 23and ends, Tuesday night, August 13), 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, like the time of marriage, the groom breaks a glass under the Chupah to recall the destruction of the Temple. 

Every 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 Temples. Understanding the reasons for their destructions thousands of years ago, will help us 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, as 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 Temples, G-dliness is in a state of "hiding" and miracles do not occur in a revealed manner as then. We have to seek Hashem and with effort we can find Him.

Rabbi Baruch of Mezibush once found his young son crying. "Why are you crying?" He asked the boy.

"My friends and I were playing hide and seek.  When it was my turn to hide, I hid but after a long time in hiding I realized that they stopped looking for me! They forgot about me!" the child replied sobbingly.

Rabbi Baruch calmed the child. He said, "This is exactly what G-d is crying about.  He also is hiding 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.  But, like the child, 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. Through these mitzvot we shall find G-d in a revealed way, thus hastening the ultimate redemption and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, with the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.  Amen.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW