What are we mourning for?
It is the nine days, and I think it is safe to say that people take this mourning period a little more seriously than the Sefirah mourning period.
But why? What are we mourning for?
We know that both Beit Hamikdash's were destroyed on Tisha Ba'av, but there have been thousands of jewish buildings destroyed over history. What makes these two so special, and causes us to mourn.
Last night I went to my sunday night shuir, and that was the question the rabbi wanted to discuss with us. We all had different answers, ranging from we mourn because that is what we were taught to do, to we mourn becuase we don't even know what we are missing.
One of us came up with the answer that the rabbi wanted to talk about, which is that we are mourning because of what we lost. The Beit Hamikdash was more than a Herodian style structure, it was a place where miracles were performed on a daily basis. If you needed a God fix, you could walk in and God would be staring you right in the face. Whether it was the lack of flies buzzing around the thousands of pounds of slaughtered animals, the smoke that went straight up regardless of the wind, or the fact that there was always room in Jerusalem regardless of how many people showed up, it was quite apparent to anyone who walked around what was going on. That obvious presence of God is something that is missing from our everyday lives. Sure, we can say we see God in a tree or a in the fact that the world is so complex, but those are things that we are used to seeing, they are the natural.
It did beg the question, if God was so apparent during the days of the Beit HaMikdash, how did it ever get destroyed, how did jews ever sin. But that will have to be discussionfor another time.
But why? What are we mourning for?
We know that both Beit Hamikdash's were destroyed on Tisha Ba'av, but there have been thousands of jewish buildings destroyed over history. What makes these two so special, and causes us to mourn.
Last night I went to my sunday night shuir, and that was the question the rabbi wanted to discuss with us. We all had different answers, ranging from we mourn because that is what we were taught to do, to we mourn becuase we don't even know what we are missing.
One of us came up with the answer that the rabbi wanted to talk about, which is that we are mourning because of what we lost. The Beit Hamikdash was more than a Herodian style structure, it was a place where miracles were performed on a daily basis. If you needed a God fix, you could walk in and God would be staring you right in the face. Whether it was the lack of flies buzzing around the thousands of pounds of slaughtered animals, the smoke that went straight up regardless of the wind, or the fact that there was always room in Jerusalem regardless of how many people showed up, it was quite apparent to anyone who walked around what was going on. That obvious presence of God is something that is missing from our everyday lives. Sure, we can say we see God in a tree or a in the fact that the world is so complex, but those are things that we are used to seeing, they are the natural.
It did beg the question, if God was so apparent during the days of the Beit HaMikdash, how did it ever get destroyed, how did jews ever sin. But that will have to be discussionfor another time.
posted by Air Time at 4:44 PM
12 Comments:
Great page !!! Greatings from Germany- Bottrop!!!
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a close associate called me today and began the conversation by saying, "Happy Nine Days!" I just laughed.
I read an interesting article on Aish.com that spoke of the same idea... There was also an interesting story included:
"Yerovoam ben Navat, who, after the death of King Solomon, split the Kingdom, usurped the throne of the northern half, and set up two golden calves for worship. God appeared to Yerovoam and said, "Repent, and I and you and Ben Yishai [King David] will walk together in Paradise." Yerovoam had the gall to respond: "Who will go first?" When he heard that David would precede him, Yerovoam rejected the Divine offer."(written by Sara Yoheved Rigler)
I just cannot believe someone who speaks directly with God could refuse to repent...But thats the thing, it seems back then speaking with God was "natural" for them.
I think I've found my wife's missing fall. Chriswoznitza seems to have taken it.
Air, if memory serves me right, I don't think any of those miracles occurred at the second temple. Still, you'r point remains.
On many occasions, especially within the last few weeks, many confused Jews have questioned me regarding the Torah’s opinion on the Kahane idea. To most Jews, it is a very complex topic, where you may find some people for it and others in vehement opposition. But what do our great sages say?
Find out at http://heshyshouse.blogspot.com/
just to agree with your sentiments, I am mourning because I don't know what I lost. I mean sure I can read the descriptions sing Al Naharos Bovel but none of us really know what we lost... and that's the saddest thing
Well, that leads back to the question of how the Jews in the desert could have sinned. G-d was even more present then, to every single soul there. My guess has always been that they got accustomed to it. They got so used to G-d and His miracles being present that they didn't even see them anymore. I think that's when their down-fall started. "You don't know what you got until it's gone." I mourn for that, for never having the chance "to get used to it", like it has been said; I mourn for something I've never had. The next question is: If you've never had it, how can you really miss it?
-OC
Hey Air/Her --
This is the only way I can reach you, so here goes.
There is a street in a tony part of Jerusalem with your name on it. If you get a sophisticato with a digital camera you could post it to your blog.
Also, since you are showing up in Israel in about a month, if you want a meal or a place to crash in J-lem, let us know!
SE
Hi there, everybody out there in AT-HT-posterland!
if God was so apparent during the days of the Beit HaMikdash, how did it ever get destroyed, how did jews ever sin
when you borrow 10 grand from the bank and default,there is no way they'll back down or talk.borrow 20 million and they will play ball so that you won't default(its like they are your partners,they are in too deep)so thats what the jews figured,G-ds in too deep He can't destroy HIS temple He is in too deep.He has to forgive whatever we do.right?
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