TishaB'av

Courtesy of Aish.com

Reflection on the days

We are headed into the anniversary of some of the most tragic events in Israel's history. Tomorrow we will fast remembering 5 sobering events that took place in our history. A date which began a long 3 long week of struggle for Jerusalem, 3 weeks of being "between the straights" until the ninth of Av(Tisha'bav) when the holy Temple, the most precious symbol of G-d dwelling among us,was broken and set a flame.

 It is a sobering time but also what is considered one of the most auspicious times on the calender, a time to right the wrongs that ultimately brought upon us the events that we remember (temple destruction, exile, worship of the golden calf, lives lost, rebellion, etc.). A time of reflection, of repentance,  a time to realign ourselves with HaShem to ensure that we do not become guilty of the same offences that caused our exile.

Our sages say that the reasons for the destruction of the first Temple was idolatry, bloodshed, and immorality. For the second they have this to say:

"But why was the second Sanctuary destroyed, seeing that in its time they were occupying themselves with Torah, [observance of] precepts, and the practice of charity? Because therein prevailed hatred without cause(baseless hatred)." - Talmund Yoma 9b

So what is "baseless hatred"? And what makes it so different from the sins of the first exile? From what I have been able to deduce it seems to be a difference of motive. The three sins of idolatry, bloodshed, and immorality were simply to please one's own selfish passions. The sins of the second Temple era were committed out of each groups strong convictions, to the point where they felt justified in something as base as shedding innocent blood (although they did not believe the blood was innocent), and would even go as far to say that they were doing a mitzvah.

"In the times of the second Bais HaMikdosh, the “murderers” of the time did not feel that what they were doing was wrong. They did not consider their murderous actions as transgressions. Rather, they viewed them as appropriate, and even a “mitzvah!” And why was that the case? When these people saw their brethren committing various transgressions, they said to themselves “These people are Sadducees; these people are apostates who deny the validity of the Torah and the supremacy of G-d. These people are rebellious and must die, as they legally deserve such!” Were these “righteous” murderers correct? No." - Rabbi Yehudah Prero, "A Hate Worse Than Death"

If we think about the events of the day we see many many examples of this. The slaughter of Hillel's disciples by the Shammaites(in order that they would outnumber them to pass the 18 measures which would alienate gentiles from the Jewish life and faith), the corruption in the Temple, the Sadducee/Pharisee clash, to the hatred against Rav Yeshua ("they hated me without cause" - Yochanan 15:24-25), his follows and so many more.

This all gives us cause to stop, reflect on our actions and seek teshuva(repentance) for the baseless hatred that still occurs in our generation today. For if we do not learn from the past then we are destined to repeat it.

The Good Fight

A poem I wrote for a friend,

The Good Fight  - July 2nd 2012

There will never be a battle harder
nor at times more unseen
than the ones fought daily
behind the scenes

there is little praise for victory
yes, usually more mockery
but it is the one that if you lose
could cost you eternity

So let your faith be strong
and your spirit meek
for G-d so loved us first
so that we should seek
to serve him first in all we do
and that no matter what
it would be him we'd turn to

for He orders the steps
of His righteous sheep
and He rescues them
when they start to bleat

the wicked are not so
they fall on their way
getting caught in the thorns
and the things people say

they think they have strength
in their feeble feet
and forget the words
we were to diligently keep

So remember my friend
don't let your guard down
the enemy prowls
when you're not around

and no matter what things we accomplish
no matter what praise we receive
there will never be anything greater
than fighting for what we believe