From the Rabbi:
This week's Parsha, Devarim, is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av), the saddest day on the Jewish calendar.
The first calamity that fell on the 9th of Av is Chet HaMiraglim, the Sin of the Scouts, which is recounted in our parsha (in addition to Parshat Shlach where the Sin of the Scouts is recorded).
The scouts came back from their 40-day tour of the Land and instead of encouraging the people who were about to enter the land, they brought back a negative report and deflated the nation from entering the Land. It was then decreed that they would wander the desert for 40 years and only the new generation would enter the Land.
In Devarim 1:41 we see the nation’s response: “We have sinned to God. We will go up and wage war in fulfilment of all that HaShem, our God commanded us.” Hashem responds: “Say to them, ‘Do not go up and wage war, for I am not in your midst; so that they will not be shattered by your enemies’” (verse 42).
Even though they repented, it was too late for them to be able to enter the Land at that time. Their plan to conquer the land failed and they were beaten back with great losses.
According to Rav Moshe Lifschitz, based on Rabbi Dessler in Michtav M’Eliyahu (Volume 2), Tisha B’Av is a tikun (correction) for the Sin of the Scouts. When the scouts returned from visiting the Land, they caused the Jewish people to cry for no reason. The nation had to live in the desert for a generation until their desire for the Land was fully restored. On Tisha B’Av, we cry for a reason, i.e., the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and all the calamities that have befallen our people. In so doing, we are transitioning to the next step of rebuilding particularly as we give expression to our desire for the Land of Israel and a rebuilt Jerusalem.
We learn in the Shulchan Aruch, Laws of Tisha B’Av 559:4, that Tisha B’Av is referred to as a "moed," a holiday, and therefore Tachanun is not recited. Why would Tisha B’Av be considered a holiday?
This is based on the verse in Megillat Eicha 1:15 (Read on Tisha B'Av) the word “moed” is mentioned: “God has trampled all my heroes in my midst; he proclaimed a ‘moed’, a set time against me to crush my young men. As in a winepress, God has trampled the maiden daughter of Yehuda.”
The Shelah, HaRav Yishayahu HaLevi Horovitz (1555 – March 24, 1630, one of the few Rabbis referred to as: HaKadosh, the Holy one) taught that the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash is part of the process of rebuilding.
"Destruction brings us to the point where (Eicha 4:22) “the punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion.” After which the eternal Beit HaMikdash will be built and it will never be destroyed. Therefore we give honor to the destruction as we give honor to the rebuilding. It is taught in Zecharia 8:19, “...The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth shall become times of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts to the house of Yehuda, therefore love the truth and peace.” The Torah hints to us in the words of Aharon which were said on the 17th of Tamuz (Shemot 32:5), “a festival for HaShem tomorrow,” that in the future the 17th of Tamuz will be a holiday of joy and gladness. And Tisha B’Av is called “moed” since it too will be a holiday."
The Shelah concludes that Tisha B’Av always falls on the same day of the week as the first day of Pesach, when B’nai Yisrael were redeemed from Egypt which is the precursor to the future redemption as it says in Micah 7:15: “As in the days when you left the land of Egypt I will show it miracles.”
We conclude Eicha with the hope that the redemption will come soon: “Turn us to you O God that we may be turned! Renew our days as of old.” And so it should be!
Shabbat Shalom!
Please refer to the Davening Schedule in the lefthand column of this newsletter for our schedule of services for Tisha B'Av, which begins Wednesday night.
Upcoming Classes
NOTE: Wednesday's class is being paused until further notice.
Saturday at 7:50 pm - Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers)
Sunday at 7:00 pm - KOT Beit Midrash
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Wednesday at 7:30 pm - Teachings of Rabbi Sacks
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