In a short time Tisha B’Av will be upon us.
Saying those words sounds as if we are preparing for a mournful, sad day. But that is not necessarily the case. The calendar date of Tisha B’Av is fact but what occurs on this date is not a fact until the day comes. We pray that this year Tisha B’Av will be a day of celebration.
As the Navi says, “Thus says Hashem: The fast of the fourth month (17th of Tammuz), the fast of the fifth month (Tisha B’Av), the fast of the seventh month (Tzom Gedaliah), and the fast of the tenth month (10th of Teves), shall become for the House of Yehudah days of joy and gladness happy festivals – [on the condition that] you must love and follow emes v’shalom, truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:18-19).
The haftaros of the Three Weeks emphasize the First Temple prophecies of Yirmiyahu and Yeshayahu which foretold the terrible calamities and destruction Bnei Yisrael would suffer if they did not repent. Rav Dovid Feinstein explains that these haftaros are not simply read at this time of year to connect to the calendar events but also because of the parshiyos hashavua. The Torah readings of Pinchas, Matos, Masei, and Devarim all discuss Klal Yisrael about to enter Eretz Yisrael and the wonders of the land. The haftaros discuss the exile of Bnei Yisrael because of their sins. For us to appreciate and feel sadness over the destruction we need to know what we lost. We need to learn of the greatness of Israel so that we can mourn its demise.
Rav Elya Lopian, in a somewhat radical approach, acted this way as well. He would say that it is impossible to appreciate the loss of the Beis HaMikdash unless we understand the value it has to us. And there’s no way to understand its value without knowledge of the halachos pertaining to it. Thus, Rav Lopian would actually learn the Rambam’s Hilchos Bais HaBechirah on Tisha B’Av itself! He maintained that these halachos are actually one of the topics we are permitted to study on Tisha B’Av, because it helps us understand the greatness of our loss.
In the haftarah for Masei (Yirmiyah 2:8), the Navi laces into the nation for not bringing Hashem into their lives, despite Hashem showering them with blessing. They didn’t say, “Ayeh Hashem? Where is Hashem and how can we get closer to Him?”
Feeling Hashem’s presence in our lives is the very purpose of the Beis HaMikdash. If that was lacking, then the Mikdash lost its foundation and destruction followed.
Where do we see that this is the purpose of the Mikdash? We learn it from the Mishkan.
There’s a well-known one-word first Rashi at the very beginning of Parshas Terumah. The Torah (Shemos 25:2) says that Klal Yisrael is being asked by Hashem to donate materials for the Mishkan, “Ve’yikchu li, take for Me.” Rashi says “l’Shmi, for My Name.” One must make sure to donate to the Mishkan for the right reasons. While usually Chazal encourage us to give charity and perform mitzvos even if they are done lo lishmah, for our own selfish concerns, such as being known in the community as a philanthropist and receiving honor, when it comes to giving toward the Mishkan, we are told we must do so only for Hashem, l’Shmi. Why is this so?
Rav Yaakov Hopfer explained this with a mashal. Imagine if you were courting a potential wife and the relationship was progressing quite well. Things take a turn for the worse, however, when it becomes clear to the young lady that you are actually more interested in her father’s wealth than her. She totally loses interest.