Written by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis
(based on a derasha from
HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita,
Ravad of Yerushalayim)
A State of Churban
"How [Eichah] can I bear your cumbrance, your burden and your strife? (Devarim 1,13)"
"How [Eichah] the city which was once so populous remains lonely like a widow? (Eichah 1,1)"
Both Moshe Rabbeinu and the prophet Yermiyahu bemoaned the fallen state of the Jewish people with the word Eichah. What is the connection between the Jewish people in the midbar and the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash?
For forty years, Klal Yisrael had all of their needs provided for; mann to eat, water from Miriam’s well, the ananei hakavod to light up and pave their way. Nonetheless, during this time there was strife and lack of respect amongst the Jewish people.
This shows us that when Klal Yisrael lacks the basic foundations of derech eretz, their situation is likened to the churban Beis Hamikdash. Notwithstanding the miracles of Yetzias Mitzrayim and Matan Torah, despite living in an era when Hashem openly revealed His Presence constantly and even though they were led by a tzadik as great as Moshe Rabbeinu, these were not enough to save us from falling into this trap. As long as sinas chinam and lashon hara prevail, we will continue to live in a state of churban.
In our days, we have seen tremendous miracles, yet they have not transformed us. If we have tarnished our nesahamos with baseless hatred for other Jews, and other interpersonal transgressions, the miracles will not have an affect on us. Only when we are worthy, will Hashem’s revealed Presence touch us personally.
G-d of Vengeance
Someone once traveled from America to ask the Brisker Rav for a beracha. Before the Rav had a chance to open his mouth and the man said, "Give me a blessing that I should see moshiach!" The Brisker Rav looked at him and asked, "Have you prepared yourself for moshiach? – Perhaps you are soiled with transgressions."
Taken aback by the Rav's sharp response, the man replied that he did not think that he had many aveiros. To which the Brisker Rav said, "You have no idea the shame you will feel on the day that Hashem reveals Himself to the world. Prepare yourself now, while you still have the opportunity.”
On the same note, the Baal Shem Tov offers the following analogy, based on the verse "He is a G-d of vengeance, G-d of vengeance reveal yourself" (Tehillim 94,1):
A king once got lost on the road, and found himself in a small village in his kingdom. When he told the people living there that he was their king they jeered at him and called him a lunatic before running him out of town.
When the king managed to return to his palace, he took council with his advisors regarding how he should punish the people of that town for this disrespect. Some said that every one in the town should be put to death. Others suggested locking them up in the royal dungeon.
One of the wiser counselors suggested that such a harsh revenge was unnecessary. All the king needed to do was to appear in the town wearing his royal crown. When they recognized his royal personage, the villagers would be shocked to realize that the person that they had humiliated was none other than their own king and that they had seriously mishandled a golden opportunity to earn his favor. Their agonies of remorse and shame would be all the punishment needed.
So, too, Hashem is a "G-d of Vengeance" and His Prescience is overwhelming. By merely "revealing Himself," as described at the end of the verse, His vengeance will be felt on the final Day of Judgment. At that auspicious moment, there will be no greater punishment than the shame felt by those who are not properly prepared for this experience.
The Almighty certainly wants to reveal Himself even today, and return to His dwelling place in the Beis Hamikdash in Yerushalayim. Although yearning for moshiach is one of the foundations of our emunah, looking towards the future is not sufficient for this to happen. We must first fix up our transgressions, especially sinas chinam, in order that we should be ready for Him to reveal His Presence.
A Question of Belief
"How (Eichah) can I bear your cumbrance, your burden and your strife? (Devarim 1,13)" Your burden refers to Apikorsis (Rashi).
At first glance, it may be difficult to understand why those who doubt Hashem are considered so wicked. We all have questions; why one person is rich and another poor, why one person is healthy and another sick, why one person dies young and another in old age. It is normal to be confounded by the mysteries of Hashem’s universe. So what makes the Apikoris’ questioning so objectionable?
While the ma'amin may have a healthy inquiring mind, he knows that there is one answer to all of his questions. Flesh-and-blood man cannot understand the ways of Heaven. We must strengthen our emunah in Hashem and then the sting in all of these questions will disappear.
The Zohar writes that during the era precending the coming of moshiach, the power of Apikorsis will grow stronger and stronger. This is analogous to a fire which has a last moment of surge right before it goes out and is extinguished forever. So, too, although the power of Apikorisis seems so strong in the world right now, soon it will be no more.
As we get closer and closer to the day of the final redemption, the power of the Apikorsim grows ever stronger. Every day, their yetzer hara gives them new ideas and novel ways to try conceal the revelation of Hashem in the world and eliminate any semblance of holiness from the Jewish people. What can we learn from their actions?
The pasuk says, "From my enemies I became wiser regarding Your mitzvos" (Tehillim). The Chafetz Chaim would often say that we must learn a lesson from the great enthusiasm that the Apikorsim pursue evil. While our pursuit of truth is tainted by a false assessment of our true capacity to achieve this goal, they pursue falsehood with such single-minded dedication and ambition that it is the true embodiment of these virtues.
We should admire and emulate their ruthless drive, for while they labor to build fleeting castles on the quicksand of worldly strivings, we will likewise struggle, with Hashem’s help, to build the glorious and eternal Beis Hamikdash on the everlasting foundations of derech eretz and the mitzvos bein adam lechaveiro. Bimhera Beyameinu, Amen.
(Rabbi Travis is Rosh Kollel of Kollel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim and is the author of Shaylos U'Teshuvos Toras Chaim and "Praying With Joy – A Daily Tefilla Companion" a practical daily guide to improving one's prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers. For more information about his work contact dytravis@actcom.com.)
