VOLUME 112 NUMBER 1
Av 5, 5784
August 9, 2024
PARSHAS DEVARIM
Candlelighting Time 7:45 PM

We are in the midst of one of the greatest calamities of all time, the loss of our Batei Mikdash. Both were destroyed on the same day, Tisha B’av, not a coincidence. When the spies debunked the idea of going to Eretz Yisroel and the entire nation wept bitter tears, they ripped out their innermost attachment to Eretz Yisroel. And the blemish of that horrible night so many years ago remains with us until this very day. We have created with the guidance of our Torah leaders hundreds of schools, yeshivos, kollelim, shuls, and many other institutions of disseminating our legacy. Thousands of yidden study the laws of slander daily and are cautious when they speak. Tens of thousands of yidden study the daily page of the Talmud in addition to many other programs of Torah study that have been implemented throughout the Torah world. Yet here we are still bereft of the Beis Hamikdash preparing to sit again on the floor on Tisha B’av and cry, weep and lament for all the tragic events that we have suffered for centuries due to the loss of the Beis Hamikdash. The ashes of the Holocaust are still relatively fresh in our minds even as the last survivors of that generation leave us. Why aren’t we home yet celebrating the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash?

After the tragedy of the spies the people seeming realized their error and told Moshe that we will indeed head to Eretz Yisroel and defeat the enemy as promised by Hashem. Moshe discouraged them stating that Hashem is not with them and they will fail, which did happen. Why wasn’t this turnabout of attitude accepted by Hashem and He didn’t intervene and instead they were slaughtered by the Emorites as foretold by Moshe. Furthermore, immediately following that defeat apparently the nation repented crying over this misfortune and Hashem ignored their pleas and paid no attention to their entreaties. Their change of attitude appeared to be sincere! 

Nachmonides explains that despite their clear regret for their previous actions, the sin of the spies was so egregious that their repentance was not sufficient. However, the question remains as to why their penitence was inadequate. Sforno adds two additional comments. First of all he states that the spies promoted a desecration of Hashem’s honor. That iniquity is only atoned for with death which that evil generation was punished with. However, he adds that this decree that they should all die in the desert was accompanied with an oath intensifying the gravity of the matter. An oath of that degree required remorse not only due to the fact that the Emorites had defeated them but rather contrition exhibiting tremendous respect for Hashem. Also their initial wrongdoing necessitated an extreme level of sorrow that was beyond the normal standards of this world. Certainly, a challenging task but under the circumstances an extreme requirement. And that they had not accomplished and therefore forgiveness was not forthcoming.

Exigent times demand strenuous solutions. The loss of our Batei Mikdash is a trouncing of unspeakable nature. The ongoing evil that we have confronted throughout the ages is all due to this loss. We must rise to the occasion and perhaps seek to expand our spiritual goals beyond the limits that we have set. Within the dimension of our present achievements we are not accomplishing our goals. Perhaps we need to reassess and raise the bar of what we must consider as new and innovative so that Hashem will ‘see’ our extended vision and extend His mercy to end this difficult struggle!

A BYTE FOR SHABBOS

The Midrash says that when we are confronted by the nations of the world, we should not engage in that altercation, rather we should hide from them. And that means that we should conceal ourselves in the study halls of Torah. That is our only salvation.                                                

CHOFETZ CHAIM                                                

GOOD SHABBOS

NEXT WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY AT SUNSET WE WILL NOT JUST COMMEMORATE THE LOSS OF OUR BATEI MIKDASH BUT ACTUALLY ‘LIVE’ THROUGH’ THAT TUMULTOUS TIME ATTEMTPING TO FEEL THE PAIN OF THOSE THAT HAVE SUFFERED THROUGHOUT THE MANY GENERATIONS OF ANGUISH AND TORTURE THAT OUR NATION HAS ENDURED. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST TISHA B’AV OR PERHAPS IF WE SINCERELY REASSESS OUR CONDUCT AND RETURN FULL HEARTEDLY TO HASHEM THIS YEAR WE WILL CELEBRATE AS TISHA B’AV WILL BE A HOLIDAY NOT A DAY OF MOURNING AND SORROW. WE WEEP TOGETHER WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ERETZ YISROEL FOR ALL THE AGONY THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING AND TOGETHER WE WILL IY’H SOON AND IN OUR DAYS GREET MOSHIACH.