This week’s music: https://youtu.be/M9mCDqCKbkA
Yibaneh Hamikdash״ Acappella יבנה המקדש

Do I Really Want It?

      A child pleads with his/her father over and over again, “ I really want this present!” Is there any father in the world that can say no to such precious begging from his child?

     In three days, sadly enough, we will again mark the date of the destruction of both the first and second Beit Hamikdash, Holy Temple. As we have mentioned many times in the name of the Slonimer Rebbe, Jewish holidays are never maintained on the basis of memories alone. All of our holidays must find their place in our present day lives and find a true connection to our future. Therefore we must all understand and accept that the reality is not simply that the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed 2000 years ago ,but that it is still in a state of destruction to this day. If baseless hatred was the main cause for the destruction of the second Temple, we have obviously not found the key to wipe that out. We must be highly invested in finding ways to create “ahavat chinam,” loving each other for no reason other than that we are family. This is the yearning that we must have to work together to insure a very special future for B’nai Yisrael and the world at large.

     As such , it is so important that we come to a clear realization of what we are missing. With Jerusalem as the center of this holiday called 9 Av, we must accept that it is not possible to feel a sense pf completion and wholeness without a rebuilt Jerusalem. The Slonimer brings down in the name of The Holy Kubriner Rebbe that there is no greater tragedy then when a Jew feels that he/she can be complete in life without Yerushalayim at its center.

     It is this yearning for Yersuhalayim that we have come to understand, has as much importance to us as Jerusalem itself. The yearning brings me to a place where I realize what I am missing. What I am missing is the ability to experience the presence of the light of the “shechinah” which dwelled in the Holy temple. “Va’asu li mikdash v’sha’chanti b’tocham” ( Sh’mot 25.8). Hashem tells Moshe, and they ( B’nai Yisrael) will build me a holy site and I will dwell in them. The natural statement should have been ,”and I will dwell in it,” however, Hashem says, “ and I will dwell in them.” The presence of God was so prevalent in the Temple that one needed to work very hard to not receive that greatness within him/herself at that time. This light is sorely missing among us. Hashem has made it clear that the only way we can get to his “shleimut,” completion, inner Peace and world Peace is by making a strong connected amends among ourselves. This is what He is waiting for us to want.

     When Hashem , our Father in heaven , hears us pleading with him, sees that we have genuine desire to be together in” Yersuhalayim hab’nuyah,” the rebuilt Jerusalem , as the center pf Peace with the entire world, then how can we even imagine for a moment that He would not grant our desire and give us that which we really want. There can be no other way than Him saying yes.

     We have three days left to fix and be able to turn Tisha B’av into a true festive day, as Hashem called out to us speaking of Tisha B’av, “kara alei Moed,” let it be a Festival for me ( Megilat Aichah) . To quote our great hope and desire from the prophet Zecharia ( 8.19),” Thus said Hashem ,and the fast of the fourth month( 17 Tammuz),and the fast of the fifth month( Tisha B’av),and the fast of the seventh month( Tzom Gedaliah) and the fast of the tenth month(Asarah B’tevet), will be for the house of Yehudah for great joy and happiness and especially good festivals; and The Truth and The Peace will love each other.” In essence, there will be no arguments about who is right and who is wrong .This in essence is what prevents us from attaining true Peace. In that time we will all embrace each other, regardless of our past opinions and attitudes. When that will happen, it will follow with the whole world wanting to be lovingly connected to us and we will see the coming to life of the prophecy of Yeshayahu( 56.7 ) , “ and my house will be a house of prayer for all nations. Wow! I want it! How about you? If I might suggest .as Reb Shlomo taught us, let’s try to create a dwelling space in our heart for Hashem to enter.

Shabbat Shalom,
Yehudah