TORAT MIZRACHI MIZRACHI SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE

Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir

Four Thoughts for Tisha B’Av

I used to think that “Sinat Chinam” I was a little embarrassed that I hadn’t fire against me, could you have done so?” was the only reason for the Churban, known of these lessons from the Churban. After these questions, Yerushalayim tells and only used in the context of Tisha Maybe today we should be addressing Bavel, “A dead lion you have killed, ground B’Av. Of course, it’s certainly a signif- these issues too? flour you have ground, a burnt city you 1icant reason, but I sometimes felt it led have burnt, a destroyed Temple you have me to empty cliches on achdut and achdut destroyed.” alone. I also found that people often used When we think of the Churban as the term “Sinat Chinam” when it was con- the destruction of a building, we This is an incredible statement. venient for them. mistakenly define the tragedy. It was not just bricks and mortar that Bavel has just plucked the ripe fruit, easily Over the past few years, I discovered that 2were destroyed. It was a different reality. conquering. Bavel hasn’t killed, burnt or Chazal recorded many other very clear rea- destroyed. sons for the Churban. Nowadays, we are educated to believe what we once knew and felt. It’s difficult Yerushalayim was already destroyed, It’s not exactly politically correct, and to explain in words the lack of something crumbled from within. perhaps not oft quoted, but this is what’s we never experienced. A spiritual center written in Masechet Shabbat: The Mikdash was not externally destroyed to which all our hearts were connected. .until we destroyed it internally לֹא חָרְבָ ה יְ ּרושׁ ָ לַ יִ ם אֶ ָ ּלא ּבִשׁ ְ בִ יל שׁ ֶ ִ ּב ְּ יט ּלו קְרִ יאַ ת We have to exert ourselves to experience שׁ ְמַ ע שׁ ַחֲרִ ית וְעַרְבִ ית. kedusha for even a moment, when once, The city was not externally burned until “Yerushalayim was destroyed only because Yerushalayim was the epicenter of con- we burned it from within. From then until its citizens intentionally omitted recitation stant holiness for every person. Imagine today, our enemies simply exploit our own of Shema morning and evening.” people in a make-believe world who think vulnerabilities. marriage means sending a weekly text If we lack faith or motivation, if we are לֹא חָרְ בָ ה יְ ּרושׁ ָ לַ יִם אֶ ָ ּלא ּבִשׁ ְ בִ יל שׁ ֶ ִ ּב ּיז ּו ָ ּב ּה ַּ תלְמִ ידֵ י message and speaking on the phone once חֲ כָ מִ י ם . a month. They don’t realize there are much divided, if we forget our identity and tra- “Yerushalayim was destroyed only because deeper and more meaningful levels of com- dition, if we become addicted to extrem- they disparaged the Torah scholars in it.” munication. They simply don’t know they ist struggles instead of dealing with the can strive for so much more. We’re crawl- essence, with what is important – we are לֹא חָרְבָה ּיְרושָׁלַיִם ּאֶלָא ּבִשְׁבִיל שֶׁ ּב ִּיט ְּלו ּבָּה ing in first gear when we should be flying! the burners and destroyers. ִּ תינוֹקוֹ ת שׁ ֶ ל ּבֵית רַ ָ ּבן. “Yerushalayim was destroyed only because Av is a reminder for us to dream, to strive In Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s schoolchildren there were interrupted from higher than our routine reality. It’s like the famous “spider web speech,” he outlines studying Torah.” broken glass at a wedding, which symbol- the ways that will allow Israel to crum- izes our incomplete reality, and reminds ble from within. The tanks and nuclear ּ ּ us there is still work to do. weapons are not the essence, he says. The לֹא חָרְבָ ה ּיְרושׁ ָלַיִם אֶ ָ לא ּבִשׁ ְבִ יל שׁ ֶ לֹא הוֹכִ ּיחו זֶה אֶ ת זֶ ה. essence is Israel’s faith and Jewish identity. “Yerushalayim was destroyed only because Without such inner resilience, they are like The Midrash personifies Yerusha- the people did not rebuke one another.” layim in a poignant statement the cobwebs. There are many other fascinating reasons city makes to Bavel after she sees If Nasrallah understood this dynamic, which describe a society that has lost its Bavel rejoicing and reveling in her of ground flour and a destroyed Temple, faith, its respect for its identity and the 3destruction: “If Heaven had not already surely we can understand it too? ability to care for others physically and waged war against me, could you have spiritually. done so? If Heaven had not already sent

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The Shabbat following Tisha B’Av for Jerusalem will merit and see her future its rebuilding. When we truly understand is called Shabbat Nachamu, named joy.” the reasons for the Churban, we can begin after the first verse in the haftarah: Yerushalayim is not just a prize received at to repair. Be comforted, my“ , נַ חֲ מ ּו נַ חֲ מ ּו עַ ּמִ י the end. This is something much deeper. 4people.” The Talmud divulges the first question we One who didn’t study for the test and will be asked when we enter the World to Did you look forward“ ,צִ ּפִיתָ לִישׁ ּועָ ה :This Shabbat is the first in a series of Sheva happened to get 100 will not rejoice in the Come deNechemta Shabbatot same way as someone who studied, worked , the seven of comfort to Redemption?” Meaning, did you accept hard and invested. A guest at a sumptuous between Tisha B’Av and Rosh Hashanah, the situation, or did you try to fix it? Did haftarot Geula meal will not enjoy it as much as the host when we read seven of , all you strive for Geula? written by Yeshayahu. who took the trouble to cook, prepare and set the table. שִ ׂ מְ ח ּו אֶ ת :One of the verses he writes is To appreciate what we have, we must יְ ּרושָׁ לַ ִם וְגִ ּילו בָ ה... שִ ּׂישׂו ּאִתָ ּה מָ שׂוֹ שׂ כָּ ל ּהַמִ תְאַבְּ לִ ים .Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad acutely feel what we don’t“ , עָ לֶ י הָ Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir are for her, All you who love her! Join in her To truly merit happiness, we must also popular Israeli media personalities and jubilation, All you who mourned over her.” mourn. World Mizrachi’s Scholars-in-Residence. -ׇ ּ One who cultivates a spiritual connec כל הַ ּ ִ מתְ אַ ֵ ּבל :Chazal comment on this verse tion with the destroyed Yerushalayim Members of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau עַ ל יְ ר ּו שׁ ָ לַ יִ ם ז וֹ כֶ ה וְ ר וֹ אֶ ה ְ ּב ִׂ ש מְ חָ תָ ּה וְ שׁ ֶ אֵ י נ וֹ מִ תְ אַ ֵ ּבל עַ ל Whoever mourns throughout his life will better appreciate mizrachi.org/speakers“ ,יְ ּרושׁ ָ לַ יִם אֵ ינוֹ רוֹאֶ ה ְ ּבשִׂ מְ חָתָ ּה

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