“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vaeschanan/Nachamu
12 Menachem Av 5784/ August 16, 2024
Pirkei Avos – Perek 4
IN MIND
It is axiomatic that every holiday of the year has a specific avodah, a
spiritual focus, often with physical actions but at least conceptually. Each
holiday is unique and strengthens a certain component of our religious
identity. Our goal is that when the holiday concludes we feel elevated and with
renewed conviction in our faith and religious practice.
Tisha b’Av is most unique in that regard. While it is very much not a day
of celebration, it does have a unique form of Avodah. Tisha b’Av teaches us the
vital idea of maintaining one’s faith in the darkest of times, of being able to
persevere despite anguish and theological questions.
What are we supposed to take out of Tisha b’Av? What emotion and
spiritual focus should remain with us from the saddest of days?
I’ve seen a few reports from IDF soldiers who related that in every home
in Gaza there are pictures of Har Habayis, either of the Dome of the Rock or of
the Al Aska Mosque. Some of the pictures are passport size while others are as
big as an entire wall. But there are pictures everywhere.
A mother of a soldier asked her son what is the first thing he’ll do when
he returns from Gaza. He immediately replied that he would hang up a picture of
Har Habayis in his living room. She expressed surprise that he didn’t say he
would take a warm shower or eat a home cooked meal. He explained that if the residents
of Gaza have multiple pictures of Har Habayis in their homes, how could we not
do the same? We need to learn from our enemies to value and treasure our most
sacred place on earth.
Shabbos is not merely a day on our calendar. The Torah instructs “V’shamru
b’nei Yisroel es HaShabbos”, literally meaning that the Jewish people must
guard the Shabbos. Ohr HaChaim notes that the word shomer can also mean to wait
longingly and anticipate. When Yosef shared his fateful dreams with his
brothers, the Torah states that Yaakov yelled at him that his dreams were
impossible to come true. The dream showed that Yosef’s mother would bow to him
and Rochel was no longer alive. (It actually was a reference to Bilhah who
because a surrogate mother to Yosef after Rochel died.) Yaakov only yelled at
Yosef in an effort to mitigate the brother’s animosity and jealousy towards
Yosef. But in reality, “V’aviv shamer es hadavar - His (Yosef’s)
father guarded the matter” (Bereishis 37:11). Rashi explains that this means
Yaakov waited and anticipated the fruition of the dreams.
Similarly, when the Torah says we must guard Shabbos it means we have to
be excited for Shabbos and prepare for it longingly.
In Parshas Pinchos the Torah teaches about the Korban Tamid. (Rav Chaim
Kanievsky zt”l writes that reciting the Korban Tamid in the morning is “like an
obligation”.) Regarding the daily obligation to bring the Korban Tamid the
pasuk states: “tishmiru l’hakriv li b’moado - You should guard
(be vigilant) to bring it in its set time.” Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzhal shlita
explains that by using the word “tishmiru” the pasuk is also telling us
that we must anticipate and wait for the opportunity to bring the daily Tamid.
Tisha b’Av reminds us that the Beis Hamikdash and daily Avodah preformed
there must be an ongoing focus in our lives.
The gemara (Shabbos 31a) states that a Jew is obligated to anticipate and
wait for the messianic redemption every day. In fact, one of the first four
questions one is asked after leaving this world is if he fulfilled this
obligation.
We should not do less
than our enemies who make Har Habayis a central focus of their lives. It should
pain us that Muslims are allowed to ascend Har Habayis freely today while we
can only watch from a distance. We should long for the opportunity to return to
where we belong and fulfill the many pesukim in the Torah that detail the daily
and periodic Korbanos.
Thinking about the Beis Hamikdash cannot be limited to Tisha b’Av. “Tishmiru
l’hakriv li b’moado” is a mandate to remind us to yearn
our way home.
Shabbat Shalom
& Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and
Chani Staum