It’s Been So Long – Can We Really Merit the Salvation?
On Tisha B’Av, we mourn the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash (the Holy Temple), which was the cause of many tragedies to the Jewish Nation, both physically and spiritually, throughout the generations. When we think about all the suffering and sorrow we have gone through, and continue to endure, we are sometimes gripped with a feeling of despair. We know that we are promised redemption, but after so many years, we wonder, why would matters change? Why would we merit salvation and the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash more than previous generations? There doesn’t seem to be improvement in our situation that would lead us to believe that we are on our way to redemption.
The Beit Hamikdash Destroyed in Every Generation
The Jerusalem Talmud says (Yoma 1:1) that every generation in which the Beit Hamikdash is not rebuilt, it is considered as if it that generation destroyed it. The Chatam Sofer explains (Torat Moshe, Drush L’Zayin Adar), the reason for this is that every year there is a judgement regarding whether the Beit Hamikdash should be rebuilt or not. Therefore, any year in which the Beit Hamikdash is not rebuilt, it is because of the sins of that generation that it was decreed to be so, thus it is considered as if they caused its destruction.
Its Rebuilding is in Our Hands – Let’s Do Teshuvah!
The fact that there is a judgment every year about the Beit Hamikdash being rebuilt means that this is something which is in our hands. Every year that we continue to suffer the loss of the Beit Hamikdash, is another year we have failed to merit it. The Jerusalem Talmud says (ibid), the reason why the Beit Hamikdash was rebuilt after the first destruction after a mere seventy years, yet it has still not been rebuilt since the second one, is because the first time, the people did teshuvah (repentance), but the second time, they didn’t. This opportunity is not gone. The Jerusalem Talmud says (Ta’anit, 1:1) that if the Jews would do teshuvah on any given day, the redemption would immediately ensue. Although we may not be more virtuous than previous generations, the teshuvah that we can do can add up to the merits of previous generations for us to finally merit redemption (see Machaneh Yisrael, Sha’ar Ha’acharon, chapter 2).
Thirty Thousand People Waiting
But the first step is to work on having the desire for the Beit Hamikdash in the first place. We must work on cultivating a sincere yearning for the redemption, and believe that we can actually do something about it. By making this a real goal which is truly meaningful to us, we have greater potential to yield the desired results.
A delegation from the town of Brisk was sent to the Beit Halevi to offer him the position of the Chief Rabbi of Brisk. The Beit Halevi turned down the offer, and said he was not looking for a position in that field. But then, one of the people said, “There are thirty thousand Jews waiting for you to come!” When the Beit Halevi heard how much he was needed, he could no longer refuse. When the Chofetz Chaim heard this story, he commented, “If there would only be that many people waiting sincerely for Mashiach to come, we would surely merit the redemption already.”
Don’t Let Them Stop!
Lest we underestimate the power of teshuvah, Nevuchadnetzar (Nebuchadnezzar) himself, the one responsible for the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash and our exile, was well aware of it. The Midrash says (Eichah Rabbah 5:5) that Nevuchadnetzar instructed his general Nevuzaradon to make sure that the Jews, as they march to Babylon, do not stop for even a moment. For if they were granted even a moment of rest, they may utilize that moment for prayer and teshuvah, which will nullify the decree.
A Day to Feel Sorry and Repent
Now that we are already in exile, it is not as easy to reverse the decree as it would have been back then. Nevertheless, we have the power to bring the Beit Hamikdash back. As our Sages have told us, the day on which we reach the point of teshuvah required, we will be redeemed immediately.
We must not underestimate the power we have. Tisha B’Av is a time to reflect on what we can improve. Every person has an area in which he can improve his observance of Torah. On Tisha B’Av we should feel sorry about the fact that we haven’t succeeded in bringing the redemption yet, and think about what we can do to bring about the Beit Hamikdash being rebuilt.
By Rabbi Yitzchok Aryeh Strimber torah4every1@gmail.com
