B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 2, 5777 / July 25, 2017
With this week’s Parsha, Devarim, we begin the fifth book of the Torah, the Book of Deuteronomy.
The book of Devarim covers a period of five weeks. It ends with Moshe blessing the people before his passing.
The first word of the Parsha, “Aileh,” has a numerical value of 36. This alludes to the amount of days Moshe was to still spend with his people.
In this book of the Torah are Moshe’s parting words to the Jewish people, before his passing. By now Moshe had already led the Jewish nation for a period of forty years. They were now on the east side of the Jordan River, about to enter into the Promised Land. Because Moshe was barred from entering into the land of Canaan, he said his farewell to the people, before he was going to pass on the leadership to Joshua.
He reminds them of all their mistakes over the forty years he led them through the desert. He reminds them about their sin with the Golden Calf; their rebellion when they wanted to return to Egypt; their complaining about the manna from heaven and their sin of sending the spies to scout the Promised Land, which resulted in their staying in the desert for forty years.
Moshe warns them, as they are about to enter into the Promised Land, that if they want to stay in the land forever, they must adhere to G-d’s words and not repeat their mistakes of the past.
Parshat Devarim is read every year on the Shabbat before the ninth of Av(Tisha B’Av) when we fast and mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples.
Q. What is the connection between this Parsha and the destruction of the Holy Temples?
A. In this Parsha Moshe reviews the unfortunate story of the "spies" who were sent to scout the land of Israel. But, as a result of the negative report they brought back, the Torah tells us that, "the people cried that night" and refused to go into Israel, which resulted in their staying in the desert 40 years.
The night which the Jews "cried" was the 9th of Av(Tisha B'Av). G-d said, "You cried this night in vain refusing to enter the land which I promised to give to you, as a result this night will become a night of crying in the future."
It was on this very same date, on the 9th of Av, a thousand years later that the First Temple was destroyed and later also the Second Temple. May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days and the rebuilding of the Temple.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
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
B"H
Monday, Menachem Av 8, 5777 / July 31, 2017
Tonight(Monday night) begins the fast of the 9th of Av, the fast of Tisha B’Av, which continues through Tuesday. The fast commemorates the destruction of the two Holy Temples in Jerusalem.
Both Temples were destroyed on the 9th of Av, approx. 500 years apart. The first Temple, which was built by King Solomon, stood for 410 years. The second Temple stood for 420 years.
Although, the 9th of Av, the day when the Temples were destroyed, was set as a fast in which we mourn the destruction of the Temples, yet we remember the Temple and the Holy city of Jerusalem each day of the year in our daily prayers and in the blessings of the Grace-after-Meal.
The Temple Mount was purchased by King David, as recorded in Scriptures. He bought the land and made the plans for the Temple, which was built by his son, King Solomon.
The city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount have been holy places to us Jews for the past 3,000 years - long before any other religion claimed it as their holy place. Over 3,000 years ago, King David said, “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.”
Three times each day, in the Amidah prayer, we ask G-d, “Return us in mercy to Jerusalem your city and dwell in it as you have promised; speedily establish therein the throne of David Your servant, and rebuild it, soon in our days as an everlasting edifice. Blessed are You, L-rd who rebuilds Jerusalem.”
In the Grace-after-Meal we also pray for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple; “Have mercy, L-rd our G-d, upon Israel Your people, upon Jerusalem your city, upon Zion the place of your glory, upon the kingship of the House of David Your anointed…”
At the conclusion of the marriage ceremony, the groom breaks a glass. This is to remember the destruction of the Holy Temples.
Although the physical structure of the Temple has been destroyed, yet, the spiritual aspect, the holiness which rested in the Temple, remained there forever. Our sages say, “G-d’s glory never left the Temple Mount.” For thousands of years Jews prayed at the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. It is where G-d tested Abraham commanding him to bring his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice on this mountain.
No matter how much the UN will try to re-write and distort the history of the Temple Mount, the truth remains the truth. The holy city of Jerusalem and the Temple mount is G-d’s everlasting gift to the Jewish people. May we merit the coming of MoshiachNOW!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & EASY FAST
Montreal time: Fast begins: Monday night: 8:23 / Fast ends: Tuesday night: 9:00
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 9, 5777 / August 1, 2017
Today is the fast day of Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av – the day in which the two holy Temples were destroyed through fire. Our sages say, “The Temples were destroyed through fire and they will again be rebuilt through fire.”
Emotions are compared to fire, as they are heated and passionate. They are expressed with enthusiasm and fervor.
Our sages tell us that the Second Temple was destroyed because of “Sinat Chinam” – unjust hate amongst Jews. Instead of performing the mitzvah of “Love your fellow as yourself,” with passion, they used that fervor and passion for strife and hatred.
To rectify the cause of the destruction of the Holy Temple and thus bring about the re-building of the Temple, it is also through fire - passion and love for each other. It should also be done with enthusiasm. Thus, just as the Temple was destroyed through fire, it will be rebuilt through fire – through the fire of love, caring and feeling for each other.
The Talmud relates the following episode: When the Temple was destroyed many Jews decided to refrain from eating meat and drinking wine as a sign of mourning for the destruction of the Temple. The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Yehoshua asked them, “Why are you not eating meat nor drinking wine?”
They replied, “How can we eat meat which was once sacrificed on the Temple Altar? How can we drink wine which was once poured on the Holy Altar?”
Rabbi Yehoshua said to them, “In that case you should not eat grapes or figs, for they too were brought to the Temple as First Fruits? Do not eat bread, as bread was used in the Temple service.”
Rabbi Yehoshua explained to them that although one must grieve for the destruction of the Temple, one must not do so over excessively. For we firmly believe that the day will soon come, when the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) will again be rebuilt. But this time it will last forever, never to be destroyed again, with the coming of Moshiach. Amen.
The Book of Lamentations, which is read on Tisha B'Av, describing the destruction of the Holy Temple is not requiredto be written on parchment like the Megilat Esther, which recalls the miracle of Purim.
Reason: Purim is an everlasting holiday. The story of Purim is recorded on parchment, for it is permanent, just as the rest of the Torah. But the story of Tisha B'Av is only temporary.When Moshiach will come, we will again have the Holy Temple and the day of Tisha B'Av will be transformed into a holiday of rejoicing.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & EASY FAST
Montrealtime: Fast ends: Tuesday night: 9:00
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