Devarim - T”B

Table of Contents
Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T"B

Emunah .................................................................................................... 4
Benefits of Yesurim ............................................................................... 6
Yesurim Prepare us for the Next World........................................... 13
Two Types of Crying .......................................................................... 16
Everything is from Hashem .............................................................. 19
Hishtadlus ............................................................................................. 21
Chumash Devarim ............................................................................... 27
Shabbos Chazon ................................................................................... 28
Waiting and Mourning ...................................................................... 32
Building Yerushalayim with Tears.................................................. 37
Benefits of Mourning ......................................................................... 39
Mourning .............................................................................................. 40
Mourning and Joy ............................................................................... 42
Daven for Mashiach ........................................................................... 43
Sinas Chinam ........................................................................................ 53
Ahavas Chinam .................................................................................... 57
 Torah Wellsprings
Devarim - T”B

Emunah Hashem rules over

everything is worthy of
Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin learning kabbalah."
zy'a advised his chassidim
not to study kabbalah before In other words, in our
they merit giluy Eliyahu. generation, believing in
Years later, people saw the Hashem is equivalent to
Husiatiner Rebbe zy'a, a seeing Eliyahu HaNavi.
grandson of the Ruzhiner,
studying kabbalah. They It states in this week's
assumed he merited to see parashah (3:15) ‫ולמכיר נתתי את‬
Eliyahu HaNavi because his 1
.‫הגלעד‬ Rebbe Tzadok
grandfather said one must HaKohen zy'a explained,
see Eliyahu before learning ‫ולמכיר‬, for those who
these sefarim! recognize Hashem (they know
that Hashem created the world and that
But the Husiatiner Rebbe everything happens by Hashem's
told them that he hadn’t hashgachah pratis),
to him ‫נתתי את‬
seen Eliyahu HaNavi. He ‫הגלעד‬, I will send him Eliyahu
explained, "My grandfather HaGiladi. Due to his
was speaking for his emunah, he deserves to
generation. At that time, one meet with Eliyahu HaNavi.
had to see Eliyahu HaNavi
before studying the Arizal's Rebbe Dovid of Lelov
sefarim. Today, anyone who zt'l explained the pasuk as
believes, ‫ואתה מושל בכל‬, that follows: ‫למכיר‬, to recognize

1. Literally, the pasuk means, "To the family of Machir [the son of
Menashe], I gave the Gilead [as an inheritance]."
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 5

whether a person believes in performed for the Jewish

Hashem, ‫נתתי‬, I give the nation in the desert. For
following sign: ‫עד‬-‫גל‬. example, it states (1:31) ‫ובמדבר‬
Happiness is the testimony. ‫אשר ראית אשר נשאך ה' אלקיך כאשר‬
(‫ גל‬or ‫ )גיל‬means happiness, ‫ישא איש את בנו בכל הדרך אשר הלכתם‬
and ‫ עד‬is testimony. ‫גלעד‬ ‫'עד באכם עד המקום הזה‬, "And in
means that a person's the desert, where you have
happiness is a sign and seen how Hashem, your
testimony that he believes in G-d, has carried you as a
Hashem. man carries his son, all the
way that you have gone
When a person believes until you have come to this
in Hashem, he will always place."
be happy. Whatever happens
to him, he knows it is for the
best and not by chance. He The following pasuk
isn't worried about the states, '‫ובדבר הזה אינכם מאמינים בה‬
future because he trusts ‫אלוקיכם‬, "With this matter,
Hashem to help him. you don't believe in Hashem
Additionally, what greater your G-d." The Bnei
joy is there than to speak Yissaschar (Agra d'Kalah)

and to serve Hashem, the explains that when people

King and Creator of the see mann coming down from
world? For these reasons, heaven to feed the nation,
when one has emunah, he water pouring from a stone
will have joy. If a person is to quench their thirst, and
sad, and yet claims that he clouds of glory surrounding
has emunah, his disposition them to protect them, they
testifies against him. don't have to believe in
However, ‫עד‬-‫גל‬, one's Hashem. They know
happiness is testimony to Hashem. They see His
his emunah. presence in their life.
Therefore, the Torah says,
This week's parashah ‫ובדבר הזה אינכם מאמינים בה' אלוקיכם‬,
describes the miracles and this isn't called emunah.
wonders that Hashem Emunah is to believe in
6 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

Hashem even when we These fasts are to reestablish

don't see His kindness and our emunah in ‫הוי"ה אחד‬, and
life is hard. To believe, even in the zechus of our emunah,
then, that everything is from the Beis HaMikdash will be
Hashem and for the good.2 rebuilt.

The Churban happened Beneϐits of Yesurim

as a result of a lack of
emunah in Hashem. Rebbe It states (Tehillim 89:16) ‫אשרי‬
Menachem Mendel of ‫העם יודעי תרועה‬. The Noam
Patilch zt’l (a grandson of Rebbe Megadim explains that the
Uri of Strelisk zy'a) discusses the word ‫ תרועה‬comes from the
dates of the four fast days. word ‫רעה‬, bad. The pasuk is
They are the 17th (of Tamuz), saying, "Fortunate is the
the 9th (of Av), the 10th (of Teves), nation ‫יודעי תרועה‬, who knows
and the 3rd (of Tishrei). These that even the bad is for their
dates are gematria 39, the benefit." And therefore, they
same gematria as ‫הוי"ה אחד‬. can be happy and praise

2. The Chasam Sofer zt'l (Likutei Teshuvos, Michtavim 9) relates the

following about his rebbe, Reb Noson Adler zt'l:

"When I came to my rebbe [Reb Noson Adler zt'l] for the first time
when I arrived in Boskovitz, he had two children – a young son
and a twelve-year-old daughter. He loved his daughter immensely
because of her good deeds…it is impossible to list all her praises.
But due to our many sins, she was niftarah. Nevertheless, Reb
Noson didn't cry. He accepted Hashem's decree with joy. I never
saw such joy on him, not even when he davened on Simchas
Torah. Throughout the year, on Shabbos, Reb Noson Adler would
receive the aliyos of kohen and maftir, and on the Shabbos of the
shiva (which was ‫)פרשת וירא‬, he didn't change his custom. When he
recited the haftorah, one tear fell from his eye, and he caught it in
his hand. But then he took hold of himself and showed no more
signs of distress. Since then, he never mentioned his daughter's
name and didn't have additional children."
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 7

Hashem for what appears to how good it was for us.

be bad, too, because they Therefore, there is no reason
believe it is for their good. to be extra happy when
As the Mishnah (Brachos ch.9) good things occur and there
states, ‫חייב אדם לברך על הרעה כשם‬ is no reason to be super
‫שמברך על הטובה‬, "One must upset when bad things
praise Hashem for the bad occur, r'l. When things
just as he praises Hashem happen, we don't yet know
for the good." what will come from it. All
we can do is to trust in
The Rambam (Pirush Hashem that He is leading
writes,
HaMishnayos, Brachos ch.9) us in the best way, and to
"When bad things happen to praise Him for every
you, be happy and accept it situation.
with a good heart. Don't be
angry and upset. Say the We quote the Rambam:
brachah ‫דיין האמת‬ with "Even if the Torah wouldn’t
happiness, just as you would obligate us to thank Hashem
say the brachah ‫הטוב והמטיב‬ for the bad, the wise
[with happiness, when good understand to do so on their
things happen to you]. The own. This is because many
wise understand the logic of things appear good initially
this concept." but are very bad in the end.
The wise don't feel startled
The Rambam (which we will and lost when confronted
quote shortly) explains that with hardships because one
sometimes we think doesn't know what will
something is very good, and come from them. You also
afterwards, we discover shouldn't be overly happy
how much bad came from when something good
it. And vice versa, there are happens because you don't
times when bad things know if this good will be
occur, and later, we find out forever."3

3. The following stories remind us not to get upset when something

8 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

doesn’t work out because only good can come from it. I heard the
following story from the baal hamaaseh, Reb Shlomo Pinchas
Shwimmer shlita of Monroe, N.Y.

One evening, Reb Shlomo Pinchas saw a sixteen-year-old bachur

wandering the streets. It was obvious that he had lost his way.
"Tzaddik, how can I help you?" Reb Shlomo Pinchas asked.

The bachur replied, "I live in Monsey and learn in yeshiva there.
During the summer, my yeshiva goes to a camp at 441 Schunnemunk
Rd, Monroe. I just returned from Monsey, where I went to see a
doctor because I was experiencing pain in my arm. The doctor
found nothing, so I took a taxi back to camp. The driver couldn’t
find 441 Schunnemunk Rd, so he dropped me off on the corner of
Schunnemunk Rd. and Bardichov St. I don't know where to go
from here."

Reb Shlomo Pinchas said, "Come in, I'll drive you there." Reb
Shlomo Pinchas entered the address in his GPS, but it didn’t show
up. After some investigation, he realized that Schunnemunk Rd. is
a very long street, and the address the bachur was looking for was
far down the street, over in Highland Mills. (That is why he didn't find
it on the GPS. They searched in Monroe, but this address was in another town.)

But Schunnemunk isn't easy to follow, and they couldn't find #441.

The bachur said, "Every morning, we use the mikvah on Koritz St.
Please take me there because from there I know a shortcut to the
camp."

When they arrived at Koritz St., the bachur showed Reb Shlomo
Pinchas where to drive, and soon they arrived at the camp. Reb
Shlomo Pinchas was never in this area before. He was impressed
by the camp's old but large building with a beautiful lake in the
background.

The next day, the bachurim went boating on the lake. One of the
boats flipped over, and four bachurim fell into the water. Three
swam to shore, but one bachur couldn't return. By the time friends
pulled him to shore, he had lost consciousness. Hatzalah of Monroe
received the call for help, and they immediately dispatched
emergency personnel to go to 441 Schunnemunk Rd. The Hatzalah
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 9

volunteers couldn’t figure out how to get to the camp, but Reb
Shlomo Pinchas (a Hatzalah member!) was able to direct them. They
saved the bachur just in time.

It was the bachur Reb Shlomo Pinchas had helped the previous
day. His arm hurt, so he didn't have the strength to swim ashore.
Had Hatzalah arrived a minute later, there would be no one to
save. The following Shabbos, the bachur benched ‫ הגומל‬in public,
thanking Hashem for the miracle.

This story teaches that even when something seems bad, it is

really for the good. The taxi driver dropped the bachur off at the
wrong place, and the bachur was lost. But this problem saved his
life the very next day. There are many similar stories, and they
occur to every person. Sometimes, something seems terrible, and
a lot of good comes from it.

A chasunah was scheduled in Bnei Brak, but the musicians didn't

show up! The musicians lived in Yerushalayim, and on the night
of this chasunah, many hafganos, demonstrations, were going on
in Yerushalayim. The roads were blocked, and they couldn't reach
the chasunah.

The chasunah hall in Bnei Brak was connected, wall to wall, with
another hall. The baalei simchah celebrating in the other hall kindly
connected the cables, so the music playing at their chasunah could
be heard at the chasunah where the musicians didn't show up.

At the hall with the live music, the band was playing the renowned
song ‫ימים על ימי מלך תוסיף‬, customarily played when the rosh yeshiva
dances with the chasan. At that time, a great-uncle danced with
the chasan in the other hall. He thought this song was being
played in his honor and was very pleased. He had prepared a
five-hundred-shekel check for the chasan. (That was the amount he gave
at the chasunos of all his relatives.) But due to the honor he received, he
ripped up that check and wrote another one for fifty thousand
shekel. It became apparent that the "problem" proved to be a
“solution.”

Here is another story: Someone with a large family worked as a

bus driver. He didn't like his job, and the wages were meager, but
it put food on the table to feed his family. One day, he was
10 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

Mishpat Tzedek4 (Avos 5) knows what is good for him,

writes, "We are mistaken and he davens for those
when we think that what we matters, but it is possible
are going through is bad. that it isn't really good for
This that you think is bad him. Therefore, we pray,
will become the root of all 'Ribono Shel Olam, do what
the good that will follow. You know is best.'" Our
About this, it states (Tehillim vision is limited; only
118:21) ‫אודך כי עניתני ותהי לי לישועה‬, Hashem knows what's best
'I praise You because You for us, and we pray to
afflicted me, and the Hashem that He give us
affliction became my what He knows we need.
salvation.' And it states
(Shoftim 10:15), ‫והטוב בעיניך עשה‬, 'Do It states (Tehillim 42:9), ‫ובלילה‬
what's good in Your eyes.' ‫שירה עמי תפילה לקל חיי‬. The
Because a person thinks he Malbim explains, "‫ובלילה‬, also

involved in an accident, and his license was revoked. He lost his

source of income. How would he support his family?

He always enjoyed art but never had the time or courage to devote
himself to it. Now, he had a lot of extra time and a dire need to
earn parnassah, so he picked up a paintbrush and began painting.

Each of his paintings sold for $5,000. He was successful beyond

expectation.

Now, he works in art, a job he enjoys, and earns far more money
than before. He discovered that what he thought was bad for him
was a blessing in disguise; losing his bus driver’s license was the
best thing to happen to him.

4. The Steipler Gaon zt'l advised yungerleit going through difficult

times to study sefer Mishpat Tzedek, so they would know that
Hashem's ways are just and that we should accept every situation
with love. The Beis Yisrael zt'l also loved this sefer and held it in
high regard.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 11

at night [which represents] Me. An ox knows his owner,

before [Hashem's kindness and a donkey his master's
comes to me]… even then trough, but Yisrael doesn’t
‫שירה עמי‬, I sang to Hashem know, My people don't
for His kindness, ‫תפילה לקל חיי‬, comprehend." What don't
and I prayed for Hashem's the Jewish people know,
kindness… because I knew and how did they rebel
that despite all the hardships, against Hashem? He
Hashem's kindness will explains that they don't
arrive after the tzaros." know that everything is for
the good. They think that
Eizor Eliyahu (from Reb
Hashem wants to do bad to
Eliyahu Lerman zt'l, a student of the
them. They don't realize that
Kotzker zt'l)writes, "Hashem this is a preparation for
only bestows good and much more and much better
kindness on Bnei Yisrael. that will be coming.
However, before the good
comes, sometimes hardship
It states in this week's
and troubles must precede
parashah (1:27) ‫ותרגנו באהליכם‬
it, for this is Hashem's way
‫ותאמרו בשנאת ה' אותנו הוציאנו מארץ‬
so that the good that will
‫מצרים לתת אותנו ביד האמרי להשמידנו‬,
come after it will be in the
"You spoke lashon hara in
best manner. When one
your tents and said that
doesn't understand this, he
Hashem hates you and
thinks that Hashem, chas
therefore He took you out of
v'shalom, is doing bad to
Mitzrayim to give you over
him, but it isn't so.
to the hands of the
He writes that this is Emorites..."
alluded to in the Haftarah of
Shabbos Chazon (Yeshayah 1:2-3) Bnei Yisroel cried and
‫בנים גדלתי ורוממתי והם פשעו בי ידע‬ panicked, but there was
‫שור קונהו וחמור אבוס בעליו ישראל לא‬ nothing to fear. Hashem
‫ידע עמי לא התבונן‬, "Children I fought the wars for them,
have raised and exalted, but and they inherited the Holy
they have rebelled against Land, Eretz Yisrael.
12 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

The Gemara (Taanis 29) The Chasam Sofer zy'a

states, "That night was Tisha (Drashos, 7 Av, p.326) writes, "If I
b'Av. Hakadosh Baruch Hu weren't afraid, I would say
said, ‫אתם בכיתם בכיה של חנם ואני‬ Tisha b'Av is a happy day
‫קובע לכם בכיה לדורות‬, 'You cried because we survived… [As
for no reason; I will give Chazal say, 'Hashem poured
you a reason to cry for all His anger out on wood and
generations." stone so we could survive'].
We should be praising
Hashem on Tisha b'Av [for
The Yidden in the desert this salvation]. This is the
cried and were afraid to reason Tisha b'Av is called
enter Eretz Yisrael, but there mo'ed (a holiday). The crying
was nothing to fear. Because and the mourning are for
they cried for no reason, we the new tragedies that
cry in every generation. happen every year. Because
Their crying for no reason of our many sins, the curses
resulted in the churban, and and the tzaros become worse
now we have a reason to each day…"
cry. As we are discussing,
many times, people cry for
The brother of the
no reason. They think life
Maharal (Reb Chaim zt'l, Igros
isn't good, are upset with
HaTiyul) notes that throughout
their lot, and don't believe
Eichah, the name ‫אלקים‬, the
everything is for their best.
name of harsh judgment,
They should remember
isn't used. Instead, the name
what crying for no reason
‫הוי"ה‬, the name of compassion,
caused and train themselves
is written. This teaches us
to believe that even what
that even the churban was
appears terrible at first, is
an act of Hashem's mercy to
for our good.
save the Jewish nation.

As well, the Yesurim of When the Jewish nation

the Churban were for our believed the report of the
Benefit. meraglim and were afraid to
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 13

go to Eretz Yisrael, they said Yesurim Prepare us for the

(1:27) ‫בשנאת ה' אותנו הוציאנו ממצרים‬, Next World
"Hashem took us out of
Mitzrayim because He hates The Dubno Magid zt'l
us." The Midrash (Bamidbar told the following mashal:
Rabba 16:2) writes that this
The doctors in the
claim had consequences. hospital instructed the
Since they said that Hashem parents of a sick child to do
hates them (Yirmiyahu 12:8) ‫על כן‬ everything they could to
‫שנאתיה‬, therefore, Hashem keep their child awake. They
hated them, r'l. warned that if the child falls
asleep within the next hour,
The Sfas Emes explains, he might never awaken, r'l.
"Hashem was acting solely
The parents spoke to
for our benefit, but since
their young child to keep
they said Hashem hates
him awake, but the child
them, this caused Hashem
was tired, and his eyes were
to hate them."
closing. The child's father
took the pillow away from
We learn from this: (a) under the child's head and
everything Hashem does is talked to him some more. It
for our benefit. (b) It is a was uncomfortable for the
grave aveirah to suspect that child, but this helped him
Hashem hates us and is stay awake.
acting against our best
interests. (c) If we say When he was about to
Hashem hates us, this can fall asleep again, the father
cause it to happen, chalilah. placed the child on the cold
floor. The young child didn't
understand why his father
Hashem loves us and was doing this to him.
seeks our good. We must
believe that, and then we Even on the floor, the
will see how everything is child began falling asleep
for our good. again, so the father hit him.
14 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

"Why is he hitting me?" the purposes of yesurim is to

child thought. "Why does he arouse us to teshuvah. The
want to torture me?" But it yesurim are wake-up calls
wasn’t torture, and it wasn't that we should improve our
cruel. It was the greatest ways. If we don't wake up,
kindness. It was saving the the yesurim might become
child's life. more painful. It is Hashem's
compassion, so we don't
The Dubno Magid sleep in galus and forget our
explains that one of the purpose in life.5

5. Consider another mashal:

A father gets home late at night and finds the front door locked.
He knocks on the door and the windows, but the family is fast
asleep. One of the windows is slightly open, and a child is sleeping
near the window. The father takes a pole and pokes the child. He
wants the child to wake up and let him in. The child cries, and
soon, the entire household is awake and alarmed. "Who is outside
their home, trying to hurt them?" Had they known that the person
poking them was their father, who only wanted to come inside to
be with them, they would open the door for him. This is hinted at
in the words (Shir HaShirim 5:4), ‫דודי שלח ידו מן החור‬, "My Friend sent His
hand through the window…"

Hashem is calling us, and it is always for our good.

Reb Yaakov Galinsky zt'l repeated the following story. He heard

it directly from the Rav mentioned in the story:

A group of ten Yidden in Russia were accused of engaging in

illegal business. If found guilty, the punishment would be either
exile to Siberia or execution. (Most likely, it would be execution, considering
the Russian judge’s antisemitic leanings.)

After the judges announced their verdict – execution – a high-

ranking priest entered the courtroom and said to the prisoners, "I
will give you a chance to live. If you convert to Christianity, you
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 15

will be pardoned. You can return home like nothing happened.

Think it over. I will ask you for your decision in five days from
now."

The Russians knew that when Yidden are together, they strengthen
each other in their emunah, so they separated the prisoners,
placing them into ten private cells. Each prisoner was alone, and
the priest and others came to them to try to convince them to
convert. They explained that this was the only way they would be
saved.

The only Yid allowed to visit the prisoners was the rav of the city.
The rav arrived at the jail to see the prisoners. However, the priest
was there, waiting for the rav. The priest assumed the rav would
be on his side. What could be better than to save the lives of these
men? He asked the rav to convince the men to accept the offer and
convert to Christianity r’l.

When the fifth day arrived, the rav told the community, "Let's
gather and daven for our ten brothers that they remain strong and
pass this difficult test. They shouldn't exchange eternal life for life
in this fleeting world."

After heart-rending tefillos, the Rav lit nine candles l’iluy nishmos
the nine men who certainly chose death over conversion. He didn't
light a tenth candle because one of the accused was a young
orphan who only had a mother. The rav figured that this young
man wouldn't pass the test and leave his mother alone. He also
didn't want to distress the poor mother, the widow, with the
thought that perhaps her son had died.

The mother, watching from the women's section, stood up and

announced, "Light a candle for my son, too. I'm certain he will be
moser nefesh. My only hope is that my son should pass this test and
remain with his emunah."

The rav lit the tenth candle.

Shortly afterward, a shaliach from the court arrived and reported

that all ten men were killed al kiddush Hashem.

The mother rejoiced over her son's sacrifice. Everybody watched

16 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

Two Types of Crying wasn't that they cried or

worried. A person is only
The sin of the miraglim human, and it is natural to
is discussed this week. In
be concerned and afraid.
parashas Shlach, when
Their aveirah was that they
talking about the miraglim,
raised their voices and
the Torah writes (Bamidbar
cried. Reb Shlomo Kluger
14:1), ‫ותשא כל העדה ויתנו את קולם‬
explains that when a person
‫ויבכו העם בלילה ההוא‬, "The entire
cries silently, he is worried,
community raised their
but he feels that there is
voices and shouted, and the
hope. Weeping loudly
people wept on that night."
shows that he thinks that
The Torah emphasizes that
all hope is gone, and all that
they raised their voices and
is left to do is to mourn the
shouted. Reb Shlomo
loss. Because they lost all
Kluger zt'l says that their
hope, it was considered to
main aveirah was that they
be an aveirah. This is also
raised their voices.
implied in this week's
According to this parashah, as it states (1:34),
explanation, their aveirah ...‫וישמע ה' את קול דבריכם ויקצוף‬,

this woman's joy and understood that her intense love for
Yiddishkeit was passed down to her son, empowering him to pass
this difficult test.

Reb Yankel Galinsky told this story as a lesson in chinuch. When

parents show their love for Yiddishkeit, this love will be passed
down to the children. Another lesson is the awareness of what is
truly important in life. A moment of life in Olam HaBa is more
pleasurable than the entire Olam HaZeh.

The story is also a lesson on the benefit of yesurim. One of the

benefits of yesurim is that it frees us from tzaros in the next world.
All yesurim in this world are worthwhile when they save us from
yesurim in Olam HaBa.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 17

"Hashem heard the sound was angry with the loud

of your words, and He cries – the fact that they had
became angry…" Hashem lost hope.6

6. One Chol HaMoed Succos, Rebbe Shlomo Leib Lenchana zt'l

led a tish and shared with his chassidim the following idea: "The
entire world isn't worth a krechtz. Our destiny is Olam HaBa.
Therefore, we shouldn't be upset when we lack worldly matters;
they are trivial. We should keep our focus on the goal, on Olam
HaBa."

Just then, a bench collapsed from the weight of the many people
standing on it. Some of the chasidim fell and were injured, and
the Rebbe was also injured from the incident. The Rebbe emitted
a krechtz from the pain.

One of the chassidim asked, "Why is the Rebbe krechtzing? Didn't

the Rebbe say this world isn't worth a krechtz?"

The Rebbe replied, "True, the world isn't worth a krechtz, but when
it hurts, one shouts and krechtzes from pain." The Beis Yisrael of
Gur zt'l repeated this story and explained that it is a natural
reaction to krechtz and shout when in pain. But even then, his
mind and intellect should remember that this world isn't so
important that we should moan over it. Feelings remain feelings,
and when one is in pain, he shouts; nevertheless, deep in his heart,
he should remember that it is all for the good. When a father
brings his son to the dentist, he expects his son will cry during the
treatments. The father isn't upset at his son for crying because it
is natural for a child to cry when in pain. But if the son says to his
father, "Why did you bring me here? Why are you doing this to
me?" the father will get upset. The son should trust that everything
his father does is for his benefit

Similarly, although we can cry and moan when we are worried or

in pain, chalilah, we must never say or think that our situation is
bad for us. We must know, at least intellectually, that everything
is for our good.
18 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

It states (Devarim 14:1-2) ‫בנים‬ A few years ago, at the

‫אתם לה' אלקכיכם לא תתגודדו ולא‬ end of a shivah, a Rav
‫תשימו קרחה בין עיניכם למת כי עם קדוש‬ showed his family a milk
‫אתה לה' אלקיך‬, "You are children bottle and told them to look
of Hashem, your G-d. You at the expiration date. He
shall neither cut yourselves explained to them, "When
nor make any baldness the expiration date arrives,
between your eyes for the we stop drinking the milk
dead. For you are a holy because that is when it
people to Hashem, your begins to spoil. The same is
G-d…" true with mourning. There
is a time for crying, but
when the shivah is over, if
The Ramban writes, "The
we continue crying
pasuk is saying that you are
excessively, it is like spoiled
a holy nation, Hashem's milk. There is a time and
chosen nation… It isn't place for everything, and
proper for you to cut the time for crying and
yourselves or to cause intense mourning has
baldness due to death, even passed."
if someone died young. The
Torah doesn’t forbid crying, The Klausenberger Rebbe
because by nature, a person zt'l lost his wife, and eleven
will cry when a loved one children in the Holocaust
leaves or travels a distance, hy'd, r'l. He said (Tehillim 33:9)
even when alive…" ‫כי הוא אמר ויהי הוא צוה ויעמוד‬, the
Ribono Shel Olam Who
commanded that the tzarah
The Ramban clearly tells
should come, He also
us that crying is permitted.
commanded ‫ויעמוד‬, that we
The problem is when it
should pick ourselves up
becomes excessive. The
from the mourning and
Ramban quotes the Gemara
move on with life.
(Moed Katan 27:) ‫באסרם להתאבל על‬
‫נפש יותר מדאי‬, that one may not It states (Bereishis 27:34) ‫ויצעק‬
mourn for a dead too much." ‫צעקה גדולה ומרה עד מאוד‬, "[Eisav]
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 19

cried out an exceedingly ‫מאוד‬, exceedingly great,

great and bitter cry." He beyond what he can endure.
shouted bitterly because
Yaakov received the brachos.
I heard from a tzaddik
Surprisingly, the Midrash
that the earth is round,
(Esther Rabba 8) states that
without corners, so a person
Yaakov was punished for
should never feel he got to
causing Eisav this anguish.
"the end of the world." No
Years later, Yaakov's
matter what trouble he is
descendant Mordechai
going through, there is
shouted bitterly due to
always hope.
Haman, Eisav's descendant,
as it states (Esther 4:1) ‫ויזעק זעקה‬
‫גדולה ומרה‬, "He cried a loud
Everything is from Hashem
and bitter cry."

However, we can ask In the Kovno ghetto, Reb

that by Eisav it says he Mordechai Pegrimansky zt'l
shouted ‫מרה עד מאוד‬, an gave chizuk to a group of
exceedingly bitter scream, his friends who were very
whereas it doesn't state ‫עד‬ worried and frightened.
‫מאוד‬ by Mordechai's Naturally, they were
shouting. It seems that the worried. Their lives and the
punishment wasn't equal. lives of their families were
at stake twenty-four hours a
The answer is that a Yid day.
never shouts bitterly ‫עד מאוד‬.
His anguish is always
limited because he knows Reb Mordechai said that
that Hashem is in charge. he can prove to them that
Hashem is protecting them,
It states (Tehillim 119:8) ‫אל‬ and therefore, they should
‫תעזבני עד מאוד‬. Dovid davened rely on Him and be happy.
that Hashem should never He said, "Do you agree that
take away his emunah until the SS soldiers hate us and
he feels that the tzaros are ‫עד‬ want to kill us?"
20 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

They all agreed to that. from the Holocaust, but

There was nothing to debate. cruel people stopped him
They knew that too well. and foiled his plans.

"Do you also agree that if The Rayatz gave him a

they kill us, no one will piercing look and asked,
punish them or even ask "And Who did all of this?"
them why they did so?"
Reb Michoel Ber said
His friends agreed once that these words changed
again. It was indeed so. his entire outlook. He was
Reb Mordechai angry at the people who
Pegrimansky said, "The SS stopped him and ruined his
soldiers saw us today. Why plans, and suddenly, he
didn't they kill us? What remembered that everything
could stop them from is in Hashem's hands.
pulling the trigger? It must
In the midst of the
be that Hashem said 'No.'
Holocaust, some managed
They can't do anything
to escape Europe and reach
without Hashem."
Eretz Yisrael. At a Rabbinic
The entire group of gathering, one of the
friends survived the war survivors discussed the
and said they always atrocities taking place on
remembered Reb European soil. With a bitter
Mordechai's lesson. It gave heart, he shouted, "The
them chizuk throughout Germans are doing all of
those difficult times. this, and He remains silent."

With a bitter heart, Reb Reb Issar Zalman Meltzer

Michoel Ber Weissmandl zt'l zt'l immediately stood up
came to the Lubavitcher and said, "The Germans are
Rebbe, the Rayatz zt'l, and doing this?! He is doing!"
told him how he had Everything is from Hashem,
prepared a plan that would and for reasons only He
save thousands of Yidden knows.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 21

This is as it states (Eichah Kodesh Barneia until we

3:37) ‫מי זה אמר ותהי ה' לא צוה‬, "Who crossed Zered Brook were
said and it occurred if thirty-eight years.'" This is
Hashem didn't command." because without Hashem's
Rashi explains that we can't help, one cannot pass over a
say that the Churban river as narrow as an amah.
happened by chance because On the other hand, with
the good and the bad are Hashem's help, one can
from Hashem. cross the sea.

There was a narrow

river, called ‫נחל זרד‬, between Hishtadlus
the desert and Eretz Yisrael,
but the Yidden couldn’t We are obligated to do
cross it without Hashem's hishtadlus, and a main source
help. The Midrash (Bamidbar for this is this week's
Rabba 19:24) states that this parashah. The Yalkut
brook, ‫זרד‬, was wide a ‫זרת‬, an Shimoni (808) states, "Perhaps
amah. "But they couldn't Hashem will send you
cross over it for thirty-eight blessings even if you sit idle
years until Hashem said (2:13) and do nothing? The pasuk
‫ועתה קומו ועברו לכם את נחל זרד‬, says (2:7), ‫כי ה' אלקיך ברכך בכל‬
"And now get up and go ‫מעשה ידיך‬, 'Hashem your G-d
over the Zered Brook.' And has blessed you in all that
it states (2:14) ‫והימים אשר הלכנו‬ you do.' If a person does, he
‫מקדש ברנע עד אשר עברנו את נחל זרד‬ receives Hashem's blessing.
‫שלושים ושמונה שנה‬, 'The days If he doesn’t, he will not
that we traveled from receive."7

7. The next words of the pasuk are, ‫ידע לכתך‬. The Yalkut Shimoni
writes, "‫ לכתך‬is similar to the word ‫לכלוך‬, dirt. ‫ ידע לכתך‬Hashem
knows the filth you must endure to earn your parnassah." This
refers to the great tests people encounter trying to earn parnassah.
How, indeed, does one pass these tests?
22 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

The Mesilas Yesharim HaMaspik L'Ovdei

(ch.21) explains the purpose Hashem (Rabbeinu Avraham ben
of hishtadlus, "Technically, a HaRambam zt'l, Bitachon 8) writes,
person could do nothing, "To trust that hishtadlus
and the decree [of how brings parnassah is ‫כפירה נסתרת‬
much parnassah he will earn] (concealed heresy). This is because

would take place if it weren't although he says he believes

for the ‫קנס‬, tax, that was in Hashem, deep in his heart
placed on all mankind, ‫בזעת‬ he thinks parnassah depends
‫אפיך תאכל לחם‬, 'By the sweat of on how much hishtadlus he
does, and that refuah
your brow shall you eat
depends on doctors and
bread.' Due to the decree of
medicine. Dovid HaMelech
the Exalted King, everyone
said about such people, ‫שנאתי‬
must do hishtadlus for his
‫השומרים הבלי שוא ואני אל ה' בטחתי‬, 'I
parnassah. It's a tax8 that all
hate those who trust in
humanity must pay, and it foolishness. I trust in
is one that no one can escape. Hashem.'"
But it isn't the hishtadlus that
helps. It is an obligation. In this week's parashah,
After one did hishtadlus, he Moshe Rabbeinu says (1:12),
fulfilled his obligation, and ‫איכה אשא לבדי טרחכם משאכם וריבכם‬,
Heaven's blessings can "How can I carry all your
come. He doesn't need to disputes all by myself?"
spend all of his days seeking Rashi says ‫ משאכם‬means they
parnassah." were apikorsim.

The answer is ‫ה' אלקיך עמך‬, know that "Hashem is with you" at the
workplace. If you will remember that ‫לא חסרת דבר‬, you will pass all
tests.

8. Based on this Mesilas Yesharim, Reb Eliyahu Dessler zt’l taught

that someone who does excessive hishtadlus can be compared to a
merchant who already paid his taxes yet runs after the tax collector
to give him more money.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 23

In what way were they don't want to trouble you to

apikorsim, and why does carry my bag too."
‫ משאכם‬mean that they were
apikorsim? The king replied, "I'm
carrying your package,
A translation of ‫ משאכם‬is regardless, because you and
"your heavy loads." This your package are on the
alludes to those who think wagon. So, you may as well
they carry the heavy load of put your bag down."
life all by themselves. This is People are similar.
apikorsus because they are Hashem carries them and
not alone. Hashem carries supplies them with all their
the load together with them. needs. If they feel ‫משאכם‬,
that they need to carry their
To explain, we share the needs on their shoulders,
following popular mashal: that is apikorsus.

A poor man was walking It states in this week's

down the road while parashah (1:32), ‫ובדבר הזה אינכם‬
carrying a heavy package on ‫מאמינים בה' אלוקיכם‬, "In this
his shoulders. A king, riding matter, you do not believe
by in his chariot, offered in Hashem, your G-d." The
him a ride. The poor man Rebbe of Stretin (Degel Machenah
climbed into the wagon but Yehudah) zt'l explains that if a
continued carrying the person thinks his parnassah
heavy package. The king will come ‫בדבר הזה‬, specifically
asked him why he didn’t in this way, and not in any
put his bag down. The poor other way, he doesn't believe
man replied, "Honorable in Hashem because Hashem
king. I'm thankful to you for can provide parnassah in
taking me in your wagon. I many ways.9

9. Someone complained to Rebbe Hershele of Lisk zt'l that a

competitor opened a store near his shop and is worried that it will
24 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

hurt his parnassah.

Rebbe Hershele Lisker responded with the following mashal:

A person owned a chicken, and every day, he threw some

breadcrumbs into the coop.

One day, he bought another chicken and placed it in the coop. The
first chicken, worried that the “newcomer” would eat all the food,
pecked at the new chicken and ripped out its feathers.

The owner watched this and thought to himself, "Chicken! Why

don't you understand? I know two birds are now in the coop, and
I will put in a double portion, enough for both of you."

Rebbe Hershele Lisker zt'l explained, "Hashem gives parnassah.

And now that two people have the same business, Hashem will
send a bigger portion. He will provide for both of you. There is
no reason to worry."

Someone saw partners working in a field; one dug holes in the

ground, and the other filled those holes with earth again.

He asked them, "What are you doing? What is the purpose of

digging holes if you immediately fill them?"

They replied, "We usually work in groups of three. One digs a

hole, the second puts in a sapling, and the third covers it with
earth. Today, the partner that usually places the sapling into the
earth didn't show up, but we figured that just because he isn't here
doesn't mean we shouldn't do our job."

This story reminds us that we have a Partner with everything we

do. We can't do anything on our own. We make hishtadlus, but
all work is futile without Hashem, the primary Partner.

A businessman had an important meeting scheduled in the Nine

Days. He asked Reb Moshe Feinstein zt'l whether he may shave
his beard to look presentable at the meeting.

Reb Moshe ruled that shaving is forbidden during the Nine Days.
A business meeting does not make it permitted.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 25

But the businessman feared his unshaven face would ruin his
chances of closing the deal, so he shaved.

The meeting went well initially. They were about to sign a contract
when one of the non-Jewish businessmen asked, "How do we
know that we can trust you? Can you prove to us your honesty
in business?"

The Yid replied, "You don't have to worry. I am a religious Jew,

and I follow the Torah. The Torah mandates stringent business
ethics, so you can trust me."

"You're a Jew?" another non-Jewish participant interjected. "I

know Jews don't shave this time of year. But you are clean-shaven.
If you aren't loyal to your religion, how can we trust you will be
honest in business?"

The deal fell through. This is an example of what occurs when one
tries to do business while ignoring the primary Partner.

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zt'l told the following story:

A generous baal tzedakah served hot, satisfying meals to anyone

who came to his door. A poor person heard about this and went
there to receive a meal. However, he accidentally knocked on the
neighbor's door.

"Can I have a meal?" he asked.

The neighbor immediately understood what occurred and decided

to take advantage of the situation. He answered, "Certainly, you
can have your meal, but first, you must do some work for me."

The neighbor gave him hard work around his house, and when
he finished, he said, "You did well. Now you can receive your
reward. Go next door. A good meal awaits you there.”

As he ate, he commented to the host, "It was hard work, but it was
worth it."

The host asked him, "Where did you work hard?"

He answered, "In your house, next door."

26 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

The Midrash (Eichah Pesichta I would be sacrificed, I

24) quotes the tefillos the didn't protest. On the
Avos prayed at the time of contrary, I allowed him to
the Churban. Avraham bind me on the mizbeiach. I
Avinu said to Hakadosh stretched my throat out to
Baruch Hu, "Ribono shel the sword. Won't You
Olam, when I was one remember that merit? Won't
hundred years old, you gave You have compassion on
me a son. When he was a my children?"
thirty-seven-year-old
scholar, You told me to Yaakov Avinu said,
sacrifice him, and I bound "Ribono Shel Olam, I was in
him on the mizbeiach. Won't Lavan's house for twenty
You remember that merit? years, and then I met up
Won't You have compassion with Eisav who wanted to
on my children?" kill my children. I was moser
nefesh to save them. And
Yitzchak Avinu said, now, my descendants are in
"Ribono Shel Olam, when the hands of the enemy, like
my father hinted to me that sheep to the slaughter! I

The host understood what happened and corrected him. "You

worked for free, and you're eating for free."

This story teaches us the essence of hishtadlus. We work in one

place and earn parnassah from another. It isn't the work that brings
parnassah. Work is a tax that must be paid to be eligible to receive
parnassah. After we do hishtadlus, Hashem sends parnassah.

The Chazon Ish zt'l sent Reb Shalom Schwadron zt’l on a trip to
London to raise money for Pe’ilim (a kiruv organization). Reb Shalom
wasn’t successful on that trip and didn't make much money in
London. When he returned, the Chazon Ish showed him a five-
hundred-dollar check (a princely sum in those days) and said, "I received
this check from a baal tzedakah in Brazil for Pe'ilim. You did
hishtadlus in London, and the yeshuah came from Brazil."
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 27

raised them like chicks; I and Hashem will help that

suffered so much to raise everything will work out."
them. I worked so hard to
raise them my entire life. Chumash Devarim
Won't You remember all of
that and have compassion The Yid HaKadosh of
on my descendants?'" Peshischa zt'l studied
Chumash Devarim every day
Avraham and Yitzchak of the year and encouraged
spoke about their mesirus his chassidim to do the
nefesh at the akeidah, and same. He said, "There isn't a
Yaakov spoke about his better mussar sefer!" (Shem
mesirus nefesh to raise his MiShmuel, Devarim 5675; Pri Tzaddik,
family. From here, we see Devarim ‫)ד"ה אלה‬.10
that mesirus nefesh to raise a
family is as great a sacrifice The Shlah (Va’eschanan)
as the akeidah. writes, "Why do we seek
mussar? The entire sefer
The Nesivos Shalom zt'l Devarim is filled with
repeated this Midrash to a mussar."
father complaining about
how hard it was for him to Chazal (Yevamos 4.) say,‫אפילו‬
support his family. The ‫למאן דלא דריש סמוכים בעלמא במשנה‬
Nesivos Shalom explained, ‫תורה דריש דהא ר' יהודה בעלמא לא‬
"Raising a family is the ‫דריש ובמשנה תורה דריש‬. The
greatest deed and the Kotzker zt'l said ‫ סמוכים‬means
supreme sacrifice. It is to be close to Hashem. The
comparable to the mesirus Gemara is hinting, "Even
nefesh of the akeidah. But Reb Yehudah, a 'Reb Yid,' a
don't worry. Do hishtadlus simple Jew – who is distant

10. The Satmar Rebbe zy'a said, "When people travel to their
summer homes, it is hard to carry along many mussar sefarim. But
they take along a Chumash Devarim, which is sufficient because
Chumash Devarim is the best mussar sefer."
28 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

from Hashem throughout would tell them ‫ ;זה הדבר‬this

the year can become ‫סמוכים‬, is the prophecy that I am
close to Hashem when he receiving for you right now.
reads sefer Devarim." The Torah is eternal, and
therefore, Moshe Rabbeinu's
The first pasuk of sefer mussar is for us, as well.
Devarim states, ‫אלה הדברים אשר‬ Moshe speaks to us today,
‫דיבר משה אל כל ישראל‬, "These are and he tells us, ‫זה הדבר אשר צוה‬
the words that Moshe spoke '‫ה‬, this is what Hashem is
to every Yid." The Chozeh saying to you right now.
of Lublin zy’a explains that This is the message that you
‫אל כל ישראל‬, "to every Yid" is have to hear, right now, so
literal. Moshe Rabbeinu you can improve your ways.
addressed this Chumash to We can receive these
every Yid, including the prophecies and discover the
Yidden living thousands of lessons and messages that
years later. In sefer Devarim, apply to us when we study
Moshe speaks to us and the parshiyos of sefer Devarim.
teaches us the mussar we
need to hear.

Chazal say Moshe Shabbos Chazon

Rabbeinu was the greatest
navi. All nevi'im say, '‫כה אמר ה‬, This Shabbos is called
"Hashem said like this," Shabbos Chazon because
while Moshe said, ‫זה הדבר‬, the haftarah begins with the
"This is what Hashem said." words ‫חזון ישעיהו‬, "Yeshayahu's
This means Moshe had a vision." Nevertheless, the
clear vision of prophecy and name is surprising because
could repeat Hashem's why should we name the
messages exactly as Hashem Shabbos after the haftarah
said them. Rebbe Tzaddok that discusses the churban?
HaKohen zt'l explains that As the Kedushas Levi (Eichah
Moshe said his nevuah the ‫ )ד"ה ואומר אבד‬asks, "Why is this
moment he received it. As Shabbos called Chazon? It
he spoke to the nation, he isn't praise for Yisrael!"
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 29

The Kedushas Levi son would desire the clothes,

answers (Drushei Tzemech Tzaddik, improve his behavior, and
Eichah) that ‫ חזון‬means a vision, then be granted the clothing.
and on this Shabbos, The king would tell his son,
Hashem shows every Yid "When I see that you are
the vision of how the world responsible and ready, I will
will appear when the third give you the clothes."
Beis HaMikdash is built.
This is what occurs each
The Kedushas Levi tells year on Shabbos Chazon.
the following mashal: Hashem shows us the third
Beis HaMikdash and what
A king granted his son a
life will be like at that time,
present, a gift that befits a
and Hashem tells us, "I am
prince. It was an expensive
showing you the future era,
set of clothing, but the prince
so you will desire it and
played outdoors and ripped
yearn for it. When I see you
and soiled the clothing.
are ready, I will give it to
The king ordered another you."
set of clothes, but the prince
The Tzaddikim of Bobov
also ruined those.
zt'l would advise to bring in
The king saw that his son Shabbos early on Shabbos
was too young to wear these Chazon, to turn some more
expensive clothes. So, he of the mourning into a time
ordered a third set of royal of joy.
clothes, and he told his son,
"When you mature and I see The Ohev Yisrael writes,
you can take care of your ‫י"ל אשר שבת חזון הוא יותר גדול במעלה‬
clothing, I will give it to ‫מכל שבתות השנה‬, "There is
you." reason to say that Shabbos
Chazon is the greatest
Once a year, the king Shabbos of the year." He
would take out the beautiful adds that when Shabbos
clothes and show them to Chazon falls on Tisha b'Av,
his son. He did this so his it is even greater.
30 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

We would think that ‫המקדש‬, "There wasn't a

Shabbos Chazon is the holiday for Yisrael like the
lowest Shabbos of the year. day the Beis HaMikdash
How can this Shabbos be was destroyed."11 Ohev
the greatest Shabbos of the Yisrael explains that this is
year? because of the closeness
with Hashem that we
The Gemara (Yevamos 62: ‫היוצא‬ experienced during this
‫ )לדרך‬says that the love
bitter time of separation.
between people increases
before separation. The Ohev
Yisrael explains that at the The Gemara (Bava Basra 99.)
time of the Destruction, the teaches that when Yidden
love between Hashem and served Hashem, the keruvim
the Jewish nation was at its in the Beis HaMikdash faced
peak, as it was a moment one another. When Yidden
before a separation. This is didn't serve Hashem, the
the specialness of this keruvim turned away from
Shabbos, greater than all each other. It was a miracle
Shabbosim of the year. It is because they were gold
a time of closeness with figures, and they moved on
Hashem. their own, in accordance
with the connection between
The Midrash says, ‫לא היה‬ Hashem and the Jewish
‫יום מועד לישראל כיום שנחרב בית‬ nation.12 Chazal (Yoma 54:) say,

11. Some explain that this is because Hashem poured out His
wrath on wood and stone, and our lives were spared.

12. Reb Chaim Volozhiner writes, "It is known

(Nefesh HaChaim 1:8)
that one keruv represents Hashem and the other the Jewish nation.
The degree of closeness and connection of the Jewish people to
Hashem — or chas veshalom the opposite — could miraculously be
observed by the positions of the keruvim. When the eyes of the
Jewish nation were turned to Hashem, the keruvim faced each
other. But if the Jewish nation turned away or turned slightly to
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 31

"When the goyim entered because the Yerushalmi

the Kodesh Kadoshim, they (Taanis 4:5) says the Babylonians
found the keruvim embracing entered the Beis HaMikdash
one another"! The Rishonim on rosh chodesh Av, and Tisha
ask, at this time of the b'Av was on Sunday. So, if
destruction, when the nation Tisha b'Av was Sunday, rosh
was guilty of the three chodesh was on Shabbos.
cardinal aveiros: idolatry, This is the reason the
murder, and adultery, the keruvim were seen
keruvim should have been embracing.
turned away from each
other! Why were they facing Rebbe Bunim of Peshischa
and embracing one another? zt'l said: Some people think
One answer can be that it being happy on Shabbos is a
was a sign of the love that madreigah for tzaddikim and
precedes separation. not applicable to the average
person. Because what
Reb Yonason Eibshitz zt'l connection does a regular
answers that the goyim person have with Shabbos?
came into the Beis But they are mistaken. If
HaMikdash on Shabbos, someone is mechalel Shabbos,
and on Shabbos, Hashem's he is ‫חייב מיתה‬. So, just as he
love to us is always perfect.13 is associated with the
We know it was Shabbos severity of desecrating the

the side, that would immediately be mirrored by the keruvim. If

chas veshalom, they turned away entirely, the keruvim would
completely turn away from each other."

13. The Ramban (Bamidbar 28:2) writes, "The musaf of Shabbos doesn’t
have a korban chatas like all other holidays. This is because Kneses
Yisrael is like Hashem's spouse, and everything is peaceful."

This Ramban is kabbalistic, but the intention is that there are no

sins on Shabbos; therefore, a korban chatas is unnecessary.
32 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

Shabbos, he is also connected It states, ‫" וביום שמחתכם‬The

with the joy of Shabbos. day of your happiness," and
Chazal (Sifri 19) say that this
A chassid was traveling refers to Shabbos. Therefore,
to be with Rebbe Bunim of rejoice with Shabbos. Eat
Peshischa for Shabbos, but tasty foods, sing zemiros,
he got delayed and only daven well, and make it a
arrived after Shabbos. Rebbe special day. Do so every
Bunim was glad he arrived Shabbos, including the
after Shabbos because this Shabbosim of the Three
person had a tendency to be Weeks, and even on Shabbos
sad, and Rebbe Bunim Chazon. And we should say
wanted to be happy on ''especially on Shabbos
Shabbos. Chazon," because the Ohev
Yisrael calls it the greatest
When the man arrived,
Shabbos of the year.
Rebbe Bunim told the
following vort:
Waiting and Mourning
Shabbos honors her
guests. When the guest is A group of people spoke
rosh chodesh (Shabbos rosh with the Brisker Rav zt'l
chodesh), Shabbos honors her
about the tzaros the Jewish
guest and gives her the nation was suffering, and
haftarah and the musaf. When someone said, "We need
the guest is yom tov, Shabbos Moshiach to come quickly
gives it all the tefillos. When to save us."
the guest is Yom Kippur, One of the men present
Shabbos also gives away the whispered, "Moshiach isn't
Shabbos seudos. But when coming so fast."
Tisha b'Av is the guest,
Shabbos tells Tisha b'Av to The Brisker Rav got very
wait until tomorrow. upset. He called this man to
Shabbos doesn't accept this another room and said,
guest because Shabbos is a "How can a Yid say such a
day of joy. thing?"
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 33

The Brisker Rav took out Hashem, and he concludes

a Rambam and read to him, the sefer with our belief in
"Whoever doesn't believe in Moshiach, and in between
Moshiach and doesn’t await these two beliefs, he writes
his arrival, not only doesn't all the halachos of the Torah.
he believe in the Nevi'im – This teaches us that the
he doesn't believe in Moshe entire Torah is dependent
Rabbeinu's Torah as well."14 on these two beliefs.

Reb Shmuel Wosner zt'l The Jewish community

notes that the Rambam of Brisk wanted the Beis
begins his sefer (‫ )יד החזקה‬with HaLevi zt'l to be their Rav,
the obligation to believe in but the Beis HaLevi turned

14. There was a city whose residents eagerly awaited the coming
of Moshiach. They hired someone to stay awake every night, and
if Moshiach arrived in middle of the night, he would blow a shofar
and ring bells to wake everyone to go out and greet Moshiach.

Once, he saw someone coming late at night and thought it was

Moshiach. He blew the shofar and rang the bells, and the entire
city woke up. But it soon became clear that it was a meshulach,
coming to collect funds.

After everyone calmed down from the false alarm, the meshulach
told the night watchman, "I see you are talented. Come with me,
and we will collect money together."

The man replied, "No way! I am staying at my post! If I go

collecting with you, I will have a good source of income for a few
years, but what will I do when I get old and it becomes too hard
for me to go around? But in this position, I'll have parnassah for
many years!"

This story illustrates how people wait for Moshiach; deep in their
hearts, they don't expect him to come anytime soon. We must
genuinely wait for Moshiach, and in that merit, Moshiach will
come speedily in our days.
34 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

down their offer. The Chofetz Chaim zt'l

Representatives from Brisk said about this episode, "The
came to the Beis HaLevi and Beis HaLevi didn't want to
pleaded, "Twenty-five turn down 25,000 Yidden. If
thousand people live in thousands of Yidden yearn
Brisk, and they all want you and request for Moshiach,
to come be their Rav. Will Moshiach will certainly not
you turn them all down?" turn them down."15

Immediately, the Beis Rebbe Nochum

HaLevi agreed to accept the Chernobyler zt'l once stayed
position in Brisk. at the home of a simple

15. Reb Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld zt'l studied in the Ksav Sofer's
yeshiva in Pressburg, and he repeated an episode that shows how
the simple people of that city sincerely anticipated the coming of
Moshiach.

A woman asked her friend, "What did you prepare for lunch
today?"

She replied, "Beblach (beans)."

"And what are you planning to cook for tomorrow?"

"Sha sha! Al tiftach peh l'Satan. [Don't imply that tomorrow will be
a regular day]! But if chas veshalom, Moshiach doesn't come, I'll
cook noodles."

This demonstrates how to wait for Moshiach. Every day, we

should hope this will finally be the greatly anticipated day
Moshiach will come.

Waiting for Moshiach is an obligation. The Gemara (Shabbos 31)

teaches: "When a person is brought for judgment [in heaven], they
ask him if he waited for Moshiach."

Shaarei Teshuvah (118) writes, "When one says ‫ לישועתך קוינו כל היום‬in
Shemonah Esrei, he should think, 'I am from the people who wait
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 35

couple. At midnight, Reb After consulting with his

Nochum cried and mourned wife, he returned and told
for the Churban Beis Reb Nochum that his wife
HaMikdash. The simple said they couldn't go to
man asked Reb Nochum Yerushalayim because who
why he was crying so much would care for their hens
and if there was anything he and livestock if they moved
could do to help him. Reb to Yerushalayim?
Nochum replied that he was
crying over the Churban Rebbe Nochum told him,
and asked his host, "Don't "But we suffer from the
you also want Moshiach to goyim all the time. Wouldn't
come and return us all to it be better to leave and go
Yerushalayim?" to Yerushalayim?"

The simple man replied, Once again, the simple

"I'm not certain. Let me ask Yid said he would ask his
my wife about that." wife’s opinion. He returned

for Moshiach,' because after one's passing, he will be asked

whether he waited for Moshiach. Mahar'i Tzemech writes, 'In
addition, [when I say these words] I have in mind that I am
awaiting Hashem's salvation to save us from all bad encounters
that can occur every day and every moment. I often found this to
be very beneficial...'"
The Midrash tells us, "There was a woman who lost her young
son and cried over him every night. Rabban Gamliel heard her
cries, which roused him to mourn for the Churban. He cried so
much until his eyelashes fell out. When Rabban Gamliel's students
discovered what was happening, they arranged for that woman to
move out of the neighborhood."
Why did this woman's tears rouse Raban Gamliel to cry for the
Churban? Perhaps it is because all tzaros result from the Churban
Beis HaMikdash. He heard her crying over her son and remembered
the source of all her troubles: the Churban Beis HaMikdash.
36 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

and said, "My wife says that HaShechinah, he should sit

Hashem should take the on the floor and cry bitterly
goyim to Yerushalayim." about his personal churban
which is that he is unable to
This story illustrates for cry and that he doesn't care
us and reminds us that the and cannot associate with
mourning has left our hearts, the mourning over the
and we don't even know destruction of the Beis
why we mourn. HaMikdash."16
The Tiferes Shlomo (‫מסעי‬
‫ )ד"ה א"י כן מטה השני‬writes, "To
The Yaavatz zt'l (Siddur Beis
properly mourn for writes, "If
Yaakov, Tisha b'Av, 6:16)

Yerushalayim, think about our only sin were that we

how much holiness we lack, aren't mourning sufficiently
for we don't have a Beis for Yerushalayim, that
HaMikdash and kohanim would be reason enough to
doing the avodah. We aren't cause the galus to continue.
close to Hashem as we used In my opinion, this is the
to be." most logical and obvious
cause for all the tzaros we
Reb Shimshon Pincus zt'l encounter in galus. We
(Galus v'Nechamah p.147-151) writes, never have respite from the
"If someone isn't able to Goyim, wherever we live.
mourn and cry during Bein And this is because the
HaMetzarim for the Churban mourning has left our
Beis HaMikdash and Galus hearts."17

16. Reb Shimshon Pinkus writes that at a levayah, only family

members and close friends of the niftar cry. Similarly, during
these days of mourning, those close to Hashem mourn and cry,
but those who feel detached from the whole matter don't. He
writes, "We can measure one's attachment to Hashem by the extent
that he mourns over the Beis HaMikdash."

17. During the Nine Days, as they walked home from the Kosel
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 37

Reb Yonoson Eibshitz zt'l The father broke out in

(Yaaras Dvash vol.1, p.253) writes, tears and said he now
"We don't feel the Churban. understands the meaning of
We are like a fool that galus in our times. We have
doesn't feel his pain. Some lost so much due to the
tzaddikim had a complete Churban, yet we have no
understanding and idea what we lost!
recognized the dire loss
caused by the Churban. If
Building Yerushalayim
we understood how much
with Tears
we lost, how much perfection
we lack, etc., we wouldn't Our mourning and our
want to eat or drink. We tears will rebuild the Beis
would roll in the earth from HaMikdash. The Shlah
distress." HaKadosh (Masechta Taanis, Ner
Mitzvah, #33) writes that we
A member of our don't mourn on Shabbos
chaburah says that four because mourning builds
years after his wife passed the Beis HaMikdash, and it
away, r'l, his sixteen-year- is forbidden to build the
old daughter told him, "I Beis HaMikdash on Shabbos.
feel bad for my younger
siblings. Before Mother was It states (Tehillim 147), ‫בונה‬
niftarah, I was old enough ‫ירושלים ה' נדחי ישראל יכנס‬,
to appreciate her love, and I "Hashem builds
know what I'm missing Yerushalayim, He will
now. But the younger gather in the dispersed of
siblings hardly know their Yisrael." The Chasam Sofer
mother's love; they don't zy'a (Drush 7th Av, 5599) asks that
know what they are it seems that the pasuk
missing." should state in the future

Maaravi, Reb Shlomke of Zvhil zt'l asked his shamesh, Reb Elyah
Roth zt'l, "Did you see? Even the stones of the Kosel were crying!"
38 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

tense '‫יבנה ירושלים ה‬, "Hashem coming out of the Kodesh

will build Yerushalayim." Kodoshim. Rabban Gamliel,
Why is it written in the Reb Elazer ben Azaryah,
present tense, ‫בונה ירושלים‬, that and Reb Yehoshua cried.
Hashem is building the Beis Reb Akiva laughed.
HaMikdash now?
They asked R’ Akiva,
Chazal tell us that the "Why are you laughing?"
third Beis HaMikdash will
come down from heaven Reb Akiva asked, "Why
fully built up (see Rashi on Rosh are you crying?"
Hashanah 30. ‫)ד"ה ל"צ‬. Hashem is
They said, "The place
building the Third Beis about which is states ‫והזר הקרב‬
HaMikdash in heaven, and ‫( יומת‬that only kohanim may go there
the construction materials and anyone else will die) has foxes
are our tears and mourning. prancing about it. Shouldn't
For two thousand years, we we cry?"
have mourned and cried for
the Churban. Hakadosh Reb Akiva replied, ‫לכך אני‬
Baruch Hu takes all those ‫מצחק‬, "That is precisely why
tears and mourning, and He I'm laughing." Reb Akiva
builds the third Beis explained to them that when
HaMikdash in heaven with he saw the actualization of
them, brick by brick, stone the prophecies of the
by stone. When it is destruction, he felt reassured
completed, it will come that the prophecies of
down from heaven. redemption would transpire.

The Gemara (Makos 24) says: From Reb Akiva's words,

‫ לכך אני מצחק‬it seems that he
Rabban Gamliel, Reb was laughing because they
Elazer ben Azaryah, Reb were mourning.
Yehoshua, and Reb Akiva
traveled to Yerushalayim. Rebbe Yisrael of
When they came to Har Tchortkov zt'l explains that
HaBayis, they saw foxes he was happy that Yidden
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 39

were mourning over the your children's success in Torah and

Churban because those tears yiras Shamayim.)

would build the third Beis

HaMikdash. The Kav HaYashar (ch.93)
writes, "I received a true
This is as the Zohar (vol.2 kabbalah: Whoever is always
p.12:) tells us, "The redemption distressed about the galus
of Bnei Yisrael depends HaShechinah will merit the
solely on crying." crown of Torah."

Reb Yehudah of Asad zt'l

Beneϐits of Mourning would save the tears that
Many benefits come from fell from his eyes at Tikun
mourning. Reb Chaim Palagi Chatzos and give them to
(Moed l'Kol Chay, Av, #61) writes,
bachurim at risk of being
"When one mourns for the drafted into the army. This
Churban Beis HaMikdash, segulah helped them (Toldos
Shmuel, as told by the testimonies of
his sins are forgiven, he will
Reb Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky zt'l and
live a long life, his children
others).
won't die in his lifetime, and
his children will live long."
Tana d'Bei Eliyahu (Rabba
Rebbe Pinchas Koritzer 20 ‫ )ד"ה פעם אחת‬tells that the

zt'l (Imrei Pinchas 404) says, nations ‫ פרס‬and ‫ מדי‬came to

"Tisha b'Av atones for sins the world as a reward for
because people are very Koresh because he cried and
broken. This is why after mourned when the goyim
Tisha b'Av, we feel slightly destroyed the Beis
similar to how we feel after HaMikdash. According to
Yom Kippur." the Chofetz Chaim’s zt'l
calculation, Koresh was
The Chasam Sofer zt'l seven years old at the time
said that those who cry for of the Churban. A child of
the Churban merit good seven doesn't fully
children. (Therefore, as one mourns, understand the devastation
it is an auspicious time to daven for of the Churban.
40 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

Nevertheless, he cried, and broken people to cry and

he was rewarded for his mourn on this day when
tears. How great will be the Hashem is also mourning. If
reward for the Yidden who they do so, their mourning
mourn and weep for will go up to a very high
Yerushalayim! place. Although they don’t
see it, their mazal sees, and
Psikta d'Rav Kahana they will hear the voice of
(ch.25) writes that Hashem Hashem crying together
swears, "Whoever waits for with them… Chazal say, 'In
My kingdom [which will be every generation, one must
revealed when Moshiach consider himself as if he was
comes] I will testify for him exiled from Yerushalayim.'
for his benefit." This year's mourning
shouldn't be the same as last
Mourning year's and years before it.
Each year has its unique set
It states (Divrei HaYamim 1, of distress and challenges
16:27)‫עוז וחדוה במקומו‬, "Might we should mourn. This is as
and joy are in His place." it states in the Kinos (#24) ‫על‬
Hashem resides in a place of ‫ אספוד כל שנה‬...‫חורבן בית המקדש‬
joy. The Chasam Sofer zt'l ‫מספד חדש‬, "For the Churban
(Drashos 7th of Av, 5560, p.307) Beis HaMikdash... I will
writes that Tisha b'Av is an mourn and eulogize each
exception. Hashem mourns year anew."
and cries on this day, and
we should mourn and cry Rebbe Pinchas Koritzer
together with Him. "Hashem zt'l (Imrei Pinchas 378, 380) writes,
resides with joy, and Chazal "On this day, keviyachol,
say that Hashem doesn't Hashem is crying. Therefore,
reside in places where there when a person is also at this
is sadness. Nevertheless, place [of mourning], he is
Tisha b'Av is called ‫יום מר‬, a protected [because he is
bitter day. Therefore, it is with Hashem]. Laughing on
proper for all the bitter and Tisha b'Av is ‫סכנת נפשות‬,
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 41

dangerous because when b'Av, which is a low day, he

one is with the king, he is cannot rectify even on
protected, but when he is Simchas Torah."
distant from the king, he
doesn't have protection. Surprisingly, Shulchan
And on this day, the Aruch (559:4) states, "We don't
Shechinah is keviyachol say tachanun or selichos on
sitting on the earth [and the Tisha b'Av because it is
only way to connect and be called moed, a holiday." It
with Hashem is through states (Eichah 1:15) ‫קרא עלי מועד‬,
mourning]." that Tisha b'Av is a moed, a
holiday. The question is,
The Avodas Yisrael (Avos
how can Tisha b'Av be
3:1) describes the avodah of
called a holiday?
the Three Weeks and Tisha
b'Av with a mashal:
Reb Mordechai Gifter zt'l
A father dropped answers (quoting his Rebbe, hy'd)
diamonds into the garbage that ‫ מועד‬means a gathering
and asked his son to search place (like ‫)אהל מועד‬. Yomim
the trash, find them, and tovim are called Moed
clean them. It was a because on yom tov, we
challenging and repulsive gather and connect with
job. The son certainly would Hashem through joy. Tisha
receive a great reward for b'Av is called moed, because
doing this for his father, we connect to Hashem
more significant than if he through our mourning.
would serve his father in
other ways. This describes On Tisha b'Av, we read
the avodah of the Three ‫מגילת איכה‬, and the word ‫איכה‬
Weeks and Tisha b'Av. It is is repeated at the beginning
a low time, a difficult period, of many of its chapters.
but the avodah is very Furthermore, many of the
precious. The Avodas kinos that we say on Tisha
Yisrael concludes, "What a b'Av begin with the word
person can rectify on Tisha ֵ In the Torah, Hashem
‫איכָה‬.
42 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

asks Adam HaRishon, ‫א ּי ֶּכָה‬,

ַ We quoted above the
"Where are you?" Chasam Sofer zy'a (Drashos, 7
Av, p.326), who says, "If I
Zera Kodesh (Devarim ‫ד"ה‬ weren't afraid, I would say
'‫)במדרש ג‬ explains that Tisha b'Av is a happy day
throughout galus, Hashem because we survived…"
asks ‫א ּי ֶּכָה‬,
ַ "Where are you?" Hashem poured out His
Hashem searches for us, wrath on stones and wood
wondering why we are so so that we can survive.
distant from Him. He
searches until He finds us as Whenever we merit to
it states (Hoshea 9:10) ‫מצאתי ישראל‬, meet Hashem, it is reason
"I found Yisrael." And when for great joy.
Hashem finds us, He sees Rebbe Shmelke of
that throughout the galus Nikolsburg zy'a tells a
we were also constantly mashal:
searching for Him. We were
always asking, ‫איה מקום כבודו‬ A king had to flee from
‫להעריצו‬, "Where is Hashem so his kingdom. He came to a
we can exalt Him?" distant land and stayed at
the home of one of his loyal
Hashem and Bnei Yisrael friends. The king noticed
search for each other until that his host was sometimes
they unite. There are times sad and other times happy.
when we merit that unity. The king asked him, "Are
On Tisha b'Av, we unite you happy or sad?"
through mourning; on yom
tov, we connect through joy. The host replied, "I'm
both. I'm sad and mournful
that you had to leave your
Mourning and Joy palace, and I'm also happy
because the king is in my
We cry and mourn home."
bitterly these days, but it
doesn't necessarily need to The Gemara (Shabbos 30:)
be with sadness. says, ‫אין השכינה שורה אלא מתוך‬
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 43

‫שמחה‬, "The Shechinah doesn't and sees," is written in the

reside unless there is present tense because due to
happiness." A navi needs to his mourning, he merits to
be in a state of happiness to experience the joy of the
receive his prophecy. So, redemption even now.
how did Yirmiyahu HaNavi
receive the nevuah of Megilas At a chasunah we say the
Eichah, since he was brachah of ‫שוש תשיש‬, when we
certainly crying and daven for the rebuilding of
mourning as he received Yerushalayim. The Sfas
this prophecy? The Chazon Emes zt'l explains that due
Ish (Maaseh Ish, vol.4 163, and some to the Churban, the joy of
say it is from the Brisker Rav zt'l)
the chasunah isn't complete.
answers that it must be that We complete the joy of the
one can mourn and cry and chasunah when we mourn
be happy at the same time. for Yerushalayim. The
mourning draws down to
Furthermore, mourning us a scent of the joy of
results in happiness. rebuilding Yerushalayim,
Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim and now the joy of the
554:25) states, ‫וכל המתאבל על‬ chasunah is complete.18
‫ירושלים זוכה ורואה בשמחתה‬,
"Whoever mourns for Daven for Mashiach
Yerushalayim merits seeing
its joy." The Meforshim (Sfas Rebbe Pinchas of Koritz
Emes, Kedushas Levi, and others) zt'l (Imrei Pinchas 380-381) writes,
explain that ‫זוכה ורואה‬, "merits "On Tisha b'Av, when we sit

18. Reb Elyah Lopian zt'l said that in Kelm, they emphasized the
word ‫ כל‬in the phrase ‫כל המתאבל על ירושלים זוכה ורואה בשמחתה‬, "Whoever
mourns for Yerushalayim merits seeing its joy…" ‫כל‬, everyone,
even those who committed severe aveiros and don’t deserve to
witness the joy of Yerushalayim when it is rebuilt. Nevertheless,
mourning sanctifies and purifies; because they mourned, they will
merit to see its joy (Beis Kelm, p.396).
44 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

on the floor and daven, we The Tiferes Shlomo (‫מסעי‬

can accomplish with tefillah ‫ )ד"ה א"י כן מטה השני‬writes, "A
everything we need. If person should contemplate
someone lacks something, a how due to our many sins,
good time for tefillah is on the holy land is under Arab
Tisha b'Av, when we sit on control. This should break a
the earth." Yid's heart, and he should
Obviously, at this time, shout out to Hakadosh
we should daven for Baruch Hu. If Yidden desire
Moshiach. This is the most the land and the building of
important tefillah.19 the Beis HaMikdash,

19. The Dubno Magid zt'l told the following mashal:

A wealthy person sent his five sons to study Torah overseas. One
of them, Reuven, became very ill. The doctors determined that
only one cure was available, an extremely costly cure.

The brothers replied, "Money isn't a problem. We will write a

letter to our wealthy father, and he will send us money."

This is the letter the oldest brother wrote:

"Dear father, kindly send us a large sum because Shimon's

eyeglasses broke, and he needs a new pair. Levi's clothes are old
and worn, and Yehudah owes 450 dinars and must pay the debt.
Also, send money for Reuven because he is dangerously ill, and
the treatment costs a fortune."

When the father received the letter, he was disappointed. He said,

"How did my foolish son confuse the order of this letter? He
should have written about Reuven first because that is the more
important matter."

The Dubno Magid said that this is how it appears when people
daven for many things, and then, as an afterthought, they daven
for Moshiach. Davening for Moshiach should be our first and
primary tefillah.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 45

Hashem will quickly accept previous generations," and

their tefillos. The Beis this is for two reasons:
HaMikdash is already built
and ready in heaven. We (1) We are closer to the
geulah, so our tefillos can
only have to request that it
accomplish more than the
come down. Therefore, the
tefillos of years ago.
Beis HaMikdash is called
‫( דביר ביתך‬in the brachah ‫ רצה‬in Shemonah (2) All tefillos of the past
Esrei) from the word ‫דיבור‬, two thousand years are still
speech. We have to ask present and join with our
Hashem to build the Beis tefillos. So, it isn't solely our
HaMikdash and this will tefillos but the tefillos of all
bring the redemption the generations that go up
quicker." before Hashem.

The Yaaras Dvash (Drush 5)

The Mabit (Beis Elokim, Shaar teaches that the first Beis
HaTefillah ch.17) writes that our HaMikdash was destroyed
tefillos for Moshiach has because people weren't
greater potential to be davening.20 As it states (Tehillim
answered than the tefillos of 14:4), ‫ה' לא קראו‬, "They didn't
generations ago because we pray to Hashem."
are nearer to the time of the Furthermore, it states (Eichah
geulah. "It is easier for the 1:2), ‫ודמעתה על לחיה‬, "Her tears
tefillos of the people of the are on her cheek." This
later generations, who are pasuk can also be read, "Her
closer to the time of the tears are because of her
redemption, to be answered, cheek." This refers to the
more than the tefillos of tears of the Jewish nation

20. The Yaaras Dvash explains that we primarily mourn the

destruction of the first Beis HaMikdash. (The second Beis HaMikdash
was a respite, a break in the long galus, but the primary destruction was the first
one.)
46 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

that came because of the tefillah. The Midrash (Eichah

Churban. The tears came Rabba 5:5) states, "The evil
because of 'cheek,' which Nevuchadnezzar told
represents tefillah (see Chulin Nevuzaradan, 'Their G-d
134:). Thus, the bitter Churban accepts teshuvah. If they
was ‫ על לחיה‬because people pray, Hashem will save
didn't daven. They didn't them. Therefore, don't let
daven that the Churban them stop walking [as you
shouldn't occur. lead them into galus], not
even for a moment, so they
The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni won't have the peace of
Yirmiyahu 327) says that when mind to call out to Hashem.'"
the Jewish nation was ‫על‬ Nevuzaradan followed
‫נהרות בבל‬, on the banks of the Nevuchadnezzar's advice.
Babylon River, enroute to When he brought the Jewish
galus, Yirmiyahu left them, nation into exile, he didn't
and everyone began to cry let them rest. His soldiers
bitterly. They said, cut off the limbs of anyone
"Rabbeinu Yirmiyahu! Will who stopped walking.
you leave us?"
So, we see that even
Yirmiyahu told them, "I Nevuchadnezzar harasha
testify by heaven and earth understood the power of
that if you had cried just tefillah, and that it had the
once when you lived in potential to prevent the
Yerushalayim, you wouldn't Churban.
have been sent into exile."
We have sources that
Even Nevuchadnezzar also the second Beis
harasha understood that HaMikdash was destroyed
Yidden had the power to because Yidden didn't daven
thwart the decree of exile to prevent it.
with their tefillos, and
therefore, he made attempts Chazal (Taanis 29) teach,
to prevent them from "When the first Beis
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 47

HaMikdash was destroyed, Bar Kamtza made a

it was erev Tisha b'Av, Motzei blemish on the animal,
Shabbos. The Levi'im were disqualifying it for a korban.
singing shirah. They were up The chachamim in the Beis
to the words, ‫יצמיתם ה' אלקינו‬, HaMikdash wanted to
"Hashem will demolish sacrifice the king's korban
them [the enemies of the despite the mum (blemish).
Jewish nation] " (Tehillim 94:23), They said that they should
but they hadn’t yet said bring the korban for the
those words and that's when sake of peace so the king
the goyim seized the Beis wouldn't be angry with
HaMikdash. The same them. But Reb Zecharyah
happened by the second ben Avkulas argued not to
Beis HaMikdash." It seems sacrifice it because "people
that had the Levi'im said will think that a korban with
‫יצמיתם ה' אלקינו‬, "Hashem will a mum could be brought as
demolish them," the two a korban."
Batei Mikdash wouldn't
have been destroyed. Their
tefillos would have stopped The chachamim came up
the Churban. with plan B: They would kill
Bar Kamtza so he wouldn't
be able to tell the Roman
The Meor Einayim also king that they didn't bring
teaches that tefillah could the korban. Once again, Reb
have prevented the Zecharyah advised against
destruction of the second it. He explained, "People
Beis HaMikdash. The will think that whoever
Gemara (Gittin 56) tells that brings a korban with a mum
Bar Kamtza told the Roman is killed."
king that the Jewish nation
was rebelling against him.
To prove it, he advised the The chachamim accepted
king to send a korban and to his views. The korban wasn’t
see whether the Jews sacrificed, and Bar Kamtza
accepted it. survived. He reported back
48 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

to the king, resulting in the churban Beis HaMikdash.21

21. The Gemara (Gittin 55) relates that Bar Kamtza was invited to a
party in error. When the host noticed him dining at his celebration,
he thought, "I wanted to invite Kamtza, my friend. I hate Bar
Kamtza; I don't want him here."

The host asked Bar Kamtza to leave. Bar Kamtza pleaded that he
let him stay. He even offered to pay him for the entire meal, but
the host unceremoniously ejected him. Bar Kamtza said, "There
were rabbanim at the meal. Why didn't they speak up in my
defense? Apparently, they consented to me being treated that
way; I will slander them to the king."

The Gemara (Gitten 57) says, ‫בא וראה כמה גדולה כחה של בושה שהרי סייע הקב''ה‬
‫את בר קמצא והחריב את ביתו ושרף את היכלו‬, "Come and see [from this story]
the power of shame. Hakadosh Baruch Hu helped Bar Kamtza,
and He destroyed His house [the Beis HaMikdash]…" all because
of the shame that Bar Kamtza endured.

Let this be a lesson to be cautious with the honor of our fellow

man. The Gemara connects this episode to the pasuk (Mishlei 28:14)
‫אשרי אדם מפחד תמיד ומקשה לבו יפול ברעה‬, "Fortunate is the man who is
always afraid, but he who hardens his heart will fall into evil."
Rashi explains, ‫מפחד תמיד‬, "He is aware and fears the consequences
of his actions, and therefore distances himself from aveiros."

Chazal (Gittin 55:) say, ‫אקמצא ובר קמצא חרוב ירושלים‬, "Yerushalayim was
destroyed because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza." We understand
the connection between the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash
and Bar Kamtza. He slandered the Jewish nation and roused the
wrath of the Roman emperor. But how did Kamtza cause the
Churban?

The Maharsha writes that perhaps Kamtza was the father of Bar
Kamtza.

Following this approach, we can explain that Kamtza, the father,

also bears responsibility for the Churban because had he trained
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 49

The Gemara concludes, 2) It is permitted to

"Reb Zecharyah ben transgress most halachos of
Avkulas's humility the Torah to save a Jew's
destroyed our house, burned life. So why didn’t they offer
the heichal, and exiled us the korban with the mum or
from our land." kill Bar Kamtza to save the
Jewish nation?
The Meor Einayim (Gittin)
The Meor Einayim
asks: answers that Reb Zecharyah
ben Avkulas was the gadol
1) Was it Reb Zecharyah hador. The proof is that his
ben Avkulas's humility that position was accepted by all
caused the destruction? It scholars. Being a gadol, he
seems that it was his also had ruach hakodesh, and
excessive caution in halachah with his ruach hakodesh he
that caused the Churban. knew that the Churban was

his son Kamtza to pursue peace, to forgive and forget, and to

remain silent during a machlokes and when humiliated, Bar
Kamtza would have reacted very differently when he was
offended. So Kamtza is also responsible for the Churban.

Yirmiyahu HaNavi told Tzidkiyahu HaMelech (Yirmiyahu 38: 17-18),

"Hashem said, if you go out to the officers of the king of Bavel [to
make peace with them] the city [Yerushalayim] will not be burned,
and you and your family will live. But if you do not go to them,
this city will be conquered…they will burn it in fire, and you will
not survive."

The Rebbe of Kamarna zy'a asks, since the decree for the destruction
of Yerushalayim was already sealed in heaven, how could
Tzidkiyahu’s going out to the officers of Bavel help?

The answer is that humility has the power to annul harsh decrees.
If Tzidkiyahu had surrendered humbly, it would have protected
Klal Yisrael, and the Beis HaMikdash would have been spared.
50 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

imminent and that nothing sure that the Torah wouldn't

could be done to change be forgotten.
that decree. This is why Reb
Zecharyah didn't allow But Reb Zecharyah didn't
them to sacrifice the korban tell the chachamim that he
with the mum, and he didn't had ruach hakodesh, and he
allow them to kill Bar knew that the Churban was
Kamtza. Logically, it made imminent. But why didn't
sense to do one of these he? He should have told
options to protect the Jewish them, "You're right, it's
nation from the king's wrath, pikuach nefesh, and we should
but he knew it wouldn't do whatever we can to avoid
help. The Churban would the king's wrath. But I know
occur, regardless. With his with my ruach hakodesh that
ruach hakodesh, he knew it anyway won't help. The
that the Churban was Churban will occur no
decreed and finalized in matter what we do.
heaven. He decided that he Therefore, let us at least
should at least preserve the preserve the halachos." Why
continuation of the Torah. didn't Reb Zecharyah tell
So, he told the chachamim them this?
that they shouldn't bring the This was because of Reb
korban with a mum, so Zecharyah's humility. He
people wouldn't think didn't want to reveal to
bringing a korban with a them that he had ruach
mum is permitted. And he hakodesh.
said that they shouldn't kill
Bar Kamtza, so people The Meor Einayim
shouldn't think that for writes, "This is the meaning
bringing a korban with a of ‫ענותנותו של רבי זכריה בן אביקילוס‬
mum, one is chayav misah. ‫החריבה‬, 'The humility of Reb
He understood that the Zecharyah ben Avkulas
Churban would occur no destroyed…' If it weren't for
matter what they did, so his humility, he would have
they might as well make told them about the Churban,
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 51

they would have davened, Following a slightly

done teshuvah, beseeched different approach, we can
Hashem to have compassion explain that Reb Zecharyah
on them, and the decree didn't believe he had the
would be rescinded. Thus, it power of tefillah. He also
was Reb Zecharyah's didn't believe that others
humility that caused the have the power of tefillah,
destruction." which is why he didn't feel
it was necessary to tell them
The Meor Einayim
to daven to prevent the
teaches that if he had told
Churban. This is an example
them what he knew with
ruach hakodesh, the chachamim of a negative form of
would have davened that humility. It is when one
the Churban shouldn't doesn't believe in his
occur, and they would rouse strengths. This misplaced
people to do teshuvah, and humility resulted in the
this would have saved them. Churban.
But he didn't want to tell
them what he knew with
The haftarah of Tisha
ruach hakodesh, and this
b'Av describes the Churban.
caused the Churban.
Among the descriptions is
(Yirmiyahu 8:13) ‫אין ענבים בגפן ואין‬
For our purposes, we see
another source that the ‫תאנים בתאנה‬, "There are no
Churban could have been grapes on the vines, there
prevented with tefillos. are no figs on the fig tree."
Teshuvah and tefillah are Why is this mentioned?
always effective. They Lacking fruit seems trite and
would have prevented the trivial when we discuss the
Churban. Churban.22

22. A Holocaust survivor told the story of his survival. He related

how he jumped out of a speeding train headed to the camps.
52 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

The pasuk says that after under his grapevine and

the Churban, even fruit under his fig tree." Because
won't grow without tefillah. of the korbanos, there was
When Shlomo was king, it much bounty, and everyone
was (I Malachim 5:5), ‫איש תחת גפנו‬ had grapes, figs, and all their
‫ואיש תחת תאנתו‬, "Each man needs. But now, after the

Someone listening to the story asked him, "Was it a hot or cold

day?"

The survivor replied, "I see you don't understand. My life was
saved! What difference does it make whether it was hot or cold?
I was saved!"

When someone's life was at stake, the subject of the weather

seemed irrelevant. Similarly, when we discuss the Churban, it
seems irrelevant to mention that there were no fruits on the trees.

Incidentally, Pesach is in the spring, so we can remember Hashem's

kindness in taking us out of Mitzrayim when the weather was
pleasant for travel. When we praise Hashem, we shouldn't forget
even the smallest detail.

A granddaughter of Reb Hillel Kalimaya zt'l survived the

Holocaust. She said that on Tisha b’Av, in Auschwitz, the Nazis
forced them to sit on sharp stones and listen to a musical concert.
They did this to break their spirit, robbing them of the luxury of
mourning on Tisha b'Av. This woman was upset by the chilul
Hashem. She prayed, "Hashem, don't answer me in my honor nor
the honor of Your nation. Answer me for Your honor, which the
goyim are disgracing. I pray that it should begin to pour."

The skies were clear, but shortly after this tefillah, dark clouds
rolled in, and it began to pour. The musicians ran for cover, and
everybody returned to their barracks.

She said that this episode gave her much chizuk. She saw that
Hashem listened to her tefillos even in Auschwitz.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 53

Churban, everything comes Sinas Chinam

solely through tefillah.
The two Batei Mikdash
The Rokeach writes, were destroyed because of
"From the day the Beis aveiros, but the aveiros of
HaMikdash was destroyed, these two eras weren't the
Hakadosh Baruch Hu same. The primary aveiros
doesn't give kindness to of the first Beis HaMikdash
Bnei Yisrael without tefillah. were avodah zarah, giluy
"The Chofetz Chaim (Likutei arayos, and shefichas
Amorim 10) writes, "All the damim. The second Beis
many tzaros that befall us in HaMikdash was destroyed
galus are because we aren't because of sinas chinam.
shouting out to Hashem
with our prayers. If we There were other
daven, our tefillos will be differences between the
answered." aveiros of these two eras.

The Midrash (Shemos Rabba The Gemara (Yoma 9) states

38:4) states, "When your that one of the differences is
forefathers were slaves in that "the first Beis
Mitzrayim, didn't I save HaMikdash, their aveiros
them when they davened to were revealed, and therefore,
Me? Therefore, be cautious the date when the galus
with tefillah because there is would end was revealed to
nothing greater than tefillah. them. In the second Beis
It is greater than all the HaMikdash, their sins
korbanos. Even if a person weren't revealed, and
isn't worthy that I should do therefore, the end of the
chesed with him, if he prays galus was not revealed."
a lot, I will do chesed with
him." Rashi explains that by
the first Beis HaMikdash,
We should daven for the people were transparent;
geulah, and very soon, the they didn't conceal their
redemption will come. true selves. Everyone knew
54 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

who was a tzaddik and who take them long to improve

was a rasha. They were their ways. Seventy years
"revealed," and therefore, it later, they returned to Eretz
was revealed to them that Yisrael.
after seventy years, they
would return to Eretz Yisrael But during the second
(see Yirmiyahu 29:10). But by the Beis HaMikdash, their sins
second Beis HaMikdash, weren't revealed. There
there were resha'im who were no nevi'im during that
pretended to be tzaddikim. era to tell them the cause of
No one knew who was a their punishment. Although
true tzaddik and who the chachamim told them that
wasn't. They were concealed. the destruction was caused
Therefore, the end of the by sinas chinam, it was hard
galus was hidden from them. for the people to accept it
They weren't told when because sinas chinam doesn't
seem to be a severe aveirah.
Moshiach would come.
They didn't know the reason
for their punishment, so it
Rebbe Yohonoson was harder for them to do
Eibshitz zy'a (Yaaras Dvash 7) teshuvah.
explains the Gemara in
another way. He explains It is still hard for us to
the Gemara, that "during recognize the severity of
the first Beis HaMikdash, sinas chinam, which is the
their sins were revealed," reason nearly two thousand
that this means the navi told years have passed, and we
them the reason for the exile. haven’t yet been redeemed.
The pesukim in navi reveal
the reason they were being The fifth of Av is the
punished, that it was for yahrtzeit of the Arizal, and
avodah zarah, giluy arayos, he very much encouraged
and shefichus damim. They ahavas Yisrael. Before the
knew what their sins were, tefillah, the Arizal said that
so they knew how to one should accept on himself
improve. Therefore, it didn't the mitzvah of ‫ואהבת לרעך כמוך‬,
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 55

to love his fellow man as Arizal was usually extremely

himself. happy at this time, but this
week, he appeared sad. Reb
Towards the end of the Chaim Vital zt'l asked him
Arizal's short life, the Arizal about this, and the Arizal
created a hesger, an exclusive replied, "I heard the samach
compound in Tzfas for his mem (Satan) say, ‫גם אתם גם מלככם‬
ten primary students, where ‫תספו‬, 'Also you and your
he taught them the secrets king will die' (Shmuel 12:25), and
of the Torah. He warned I understand this to mean
them to avoid machlokes. that I am going to die
But one Friday, two together with some of my
women got into a fight about students. And it's all because
some matter, and then their of the machlokes that occurred
husbands got involved. today. As long as there was
Their shouts were heard peace among you, the Satan
from the distance. couldn't enter our secluded
compound."
Before Shabbos, the
Arizal with his students Less than a week later,
walked out of Tzfas to be on the fifth of Av, the Arizal
mekabel Shabbos in the fields and five of his students were
(as this was their weekly custom). The niftar.23

23. It states in this week's parashah (1:12), ‫איכה אשא לבדי טרחכם משאכם‬
‫וריבכם‬. The Imrei Noam explains, ‫איכה‬, Moshe told the nation that
for matters related to the Churban and redemption, ‫אשא לבדי‬, I will
take full responsibility. Your job is ‫טרחכם משאכם וריבכם‬, to avoid sinas
chinam.

Also, in this week's parashah, the trop over the words ‫אחינו המסו לבבינו‬
(Devarim 1:28) are ‫תלישה קטנה קדמא ואזלא‬. The Beis Aharon zy'a explains:
If there is a ‫תלישה קטנה‬, a minor breach, ‫אחינו‬, in the friendship, ‫קדמה‬
‫ואזלא‬, the dispute will grow greater and larger, and ‫המסו לבבינו‬, our
hearts melt. Therefore, the solution is to avoid even the smallest
conflict.
56 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

The Chofetz Chaim say that lashon hara is just

15:)
explains that sinas chinam, as severe as the three
alone, wouldn't destroy the cardinal sins, ‫ גלוי‬,‫עבודה זרה‬
Beis HaMikdash. When the ‫ ושפיכות דמים‬,‫עריות‬, idol worship,
Gemara says the Beis adultery, and murder.
HaMikdash was destroyed
The Kli Yakar (Shemos 3:2)
because of sinas chinam it
writes, "The primary reason
refers to the severe aveirah for the galus is their hatred
of lashon hara (a byproduct of and jealousy. In these
sinas chinam). It was lashon hara regards, the Jewish nation is
that destroyed the Beis worse than all other nations.
HaMikdash. Chazal (Eiruchin They speak lashon hara…"24

24. Rebbe Yissachar Dov of Belz zt'l once said, "When a Yid stabs
his fellow man in a beis medresh by speaking lashon hara
(‫)שטעכ'ס‬
on him, this results in a goy who stabs a Yid." He said that when
he came to visit another city. After the tefillah, they wanted to
honor with a l’chaim, but he refused to drink, saying that there
was lashon hara in the beis medresh, which resulted in a goy
murdering a Yid, r'l. Later they heard that a goy had stabbed a
Yid in their city (heard from the Rebbe of Narol zt'l).
One Yom Kippur night, shortly after the Holocaust, the
Klausenberger Rebbe zt'l said the following dvar Torah: (Devarim
32:18-19) ‫צור ילדך תשי‬, people forget all the kindness that Hashem does
for them, ‫ א"ל מחוללך‬and Hashem forgives them for that (from the
word ‫)מוחל‬. However, ‫וירא ה' וינאץ‬, "Hashem becomes angry and doesn’t
forgive, ‫מכעס בניו ובנותיו‬, when someone harms His children."
The graduating class of a girl's high school in Monsey (class of ‫)תשע"ז‬
gathered to figure out why they were having such a hard time
finding shidduchim. Only six girls were engaged (they got engaged
when they were still in school), but all the others were single, and it was
already a year and a half after graduation! They thought that
perhaps they had harmed one of the teachers. They appointed two
girls to call all the teachers and ask for forgiveness in the name of
the entire class.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 57

Ahavas Chinam because all mitzvos and all

good middos are connected.
Rebbe Elimelech of Perfection in one area
Lizhensk zt'l toiled for at generates perfection in all
least twenty-five years to aspects of avodas Hashem.
acquire perfection in one
particular middah. His For seventeen years, the
students asked him why he Chidushei HaRim zt'l toiled
focused so much on that with all his strength to attain
middah. He replied, (a) an ‫עין טובה‬, a good eye. He
Perfection in one middah, said that no one ever
alone, greatly purifies a acquired this trait as
person. (b) When one attains perfectly as he did.
excellence in one middah, he
automatically attains One aspect of ‫ עין טובה‬is to
perfection in all other good see only the good in others.
middos. When the Chidushei HaRim
zt'l became a chassidic
All good middos are Rebbe, he had to see the
connected. Therefore, some faults in people (in order to help
tzaddikim focused on them), which bothered him
perfecting a single character immensely.
trait, and when they attained
perfection in that trait, they The Chidushei HaRim
attained excellence in all writes, "During [the Three
other good middos. Weeks], one must eradicate
sinas chinam and all aspects
A hint to this concept is of a bad eye. Even if he
the Chazal (Midrash, Mishlei 1) "If doesn't look down at anyone,
one keeps one mitzvah if he doesn't focus on their
perfectly, it is like he kept good, it can be considered
all 613 mitzvos." This is sinas chinam. Chazal tell us,

A few days later, the originator of this idea became a kallah. A

couple of days afterward, a few more shidduchim were finalized.
58 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

'A generation that the Beis Reb Meir said, "Do me a

HaMikdash isn't built up is favor, when you light
like it was destroyed in that Shabbos lecht, tell Hakadosh
generation.’ With a good Baruch Hu the people who
eye, the Beis HaMikdash help you because there is
will be rebuilt."25 nothing more beloved to
Hakadosh Baruch Hu than
A woman dedicatedly when people say good
cared for her ill husband for things about His children."
several years. Reb Meir
In 1940/‫ת"ש‬, Reb Shaul
Brandsdorfer zt'l (a renowned
Yedidyah of Modzitz zt'l
dayan from Yerushalayim) would
fled from Modzitz to Vilna
call her occasionally to give
to escape the war. On
her chizuk.
Shabbos, he led a tisch, and
the Litvishe people in the
Once, erev Shabbos, he area came in to listen to the
asked her, "Do people help Rebbe's beautiful, trademark
you, or is everything on singing. When the Rebbe
your shoulders?" handed out shirayim, it
seemed strange to them.
She told him that kind They had never seen this
people help her. custom before. The Rebbe

25. The Shem MiShmuel (Behaloscha ‫ )תר"ע ד"ה ולכפר‬writes, "The attribute
of a good eye can purify a person [from all his sins]."

One year, on Tisha b'Av, Reb Refael of Barshid zt'l was busy
helping a couple restore their shalom bayis. People asked Reb
Refael, "Is this the right time for this? Can't you take care of this
after Tisha b'Av?"

Reb Rafael replied, "On the contrary, Tisha b'Av is the best time
to restore shalom bayis. The Beis HaMikdash was destroyed
because of sinas chinam, so shalom will rebuild the Beis
HaMikdash."
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 59

said, "Don't make fun of this others will have. If people

custom. If more people would practice this, this war
would practice it, the war wouldn't happen."
wouldn't be."
Tana d'Bei Eliyahu (Rabba 28)
The Rebbe explained, writes, "Hakadosh Baruch
"Shirayim means that even Hu tells Bnei Yisrael, 'My
when a plate of food is beloved children…what do
before you, you don't keep I ask from you? Only that
it all for yourself. You give you should love one another
away from your own so and honor one another.'"26

26. The following story is an example of mesirus nefesh for the

mitzvah of ahavas Yisrael and the benefits that can be earned from
it. I heard the story from the baal hamaasah, a respected rav in
America who is involved in kiruv rechokim.

One day, his wife told him that she wanted to donate a kidney to
help someone on dialysis. Her husband tried discouraging her,
but she insisted she wanted this zechus.

They went to the Skverer Rebbe shlita and sought his counsel.

The Rebbe told the husband to respect his wife's wishes because
it is a great mitzvah.

The husband asked the Rebbe, "The sick patient needs the kidney
as quickly as possible, but our child's chasunah is coming up soon.
Should we do the surgery now or wait until after the chasunah?"

The Rebbe told them that if the doctor says she will recover in
time for the chasunah, she should proceed with the surgery now.

They consulted with the doctor, and he agreed to speed up the

prep stages and do the transplant as quickly as possible so that
the mother would be back on her feet in time for her child's
chasunah.

The doctors began with the standard battery of tests to confirm

60 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B

Shulchan Aruch (554:20) "I gave her the money

states, ‫אין שאלת שלום לחבירו בתשעה‬ and sent her back right away.
‫באב‬, "One mustn't greet his But I heard that some youth
friend on Tisha b'Av." But defiled her on the way."
why not? The Beis
"What should I do?"
HaMikdash was destroyed
because of sinas chinam. It "I suggest you divorce
seems that Tisha b'Av is the her."
ideal time to greet one's
"But her kesubah is very
fellow man and increase love
large, and it will cost me a
and peace.
lot of money to divorce her."
To answer, we quote the "I'll lend you the money."
following Gemara (Gittin 58.):
The carpenter divorced
"There was an apprenticed his wife, and the apprentice
carpenter whose eyes desired married her.
his boss's wife. Once, his When the loan was due,
boss, the carpenter, needed a the carpenter could not pay
loan. The apprentice said, his debt, so the apprentice
'Send your wife to me, and I said, 'Work for me, and you
will give her the money.' will pay off your debt with
your work.'
The apprentice detained
her in his home for three "The apprentice and his
days. The carpenter came new wife ate while the
and asked, "Where is my carpenter served them. As
wife?" he poured them drinks, his

that she was a healthy donor candidate. During one of the tests,
they discovered that she had a tumor right beneath one of her
kidneys, pressing on a primary artery that sends blood to the
heart. Had the tumor gone undetected, it could have blocked the
blood circulation. She thought she was saving another person's
life, but she saved her own. Because of her ahavas Yisrael, her life
was saved.
 Torah Wellsprings - Devarim - T”B 61

tears fell into their cups. That and never went beyond the
is when the decree for the letter of the law."
destruction of the Beis
HaMikdash was sealed in They failed to consider
heaven." the spirit of the law as well.
They only focused on what
The Yaavatz (Reb Yaakov is explicitly prohibited or
Emdin zt'l) notes that the permitted, and that isn't
apprentice didn't transgress sufficient. A person can
an aveirah in this story. He commit terrible aveiros, r'l,
married the carpenter's wife and it isn't an excuse that the
after she was divorced. Yet, aveirah isn't written explicitly
because of his deeds, the Beis in the Torah.
HaMikdash was destroyed.
"From this, we learn that Now, let's return to our
there are aveiros that aren't question. We want peace on
written explicitly, yet they Tisha b'Av, so why don't we
are extremely grave and greet people on Tisha b'Av?
despised by Hashem. They
The answer is that on
are worse than the cardinal
Tisha b'Av, we seek true
sins."
peace, not lip service.
An example of this Throughout the year, people
concept is the Gemara (Bava smile at their fellow man and
Metzia 30:), which states, greet one another, but they
"Yerushalayim was destroyed don't necessarily care about
because they ruled by the them in their hearts. On
laws of the Torah." Tisha b'Av, we take a break
from greeting our fellow
The Gemara asks, "Which man, reassess, and strive to
laws should they follow, if reach a higher level. We
not the laws of the Torah?" want to go beyond the letter
of the law, beyond what's
The Gemara responds, commonly expected, and to
"The [problem was they] develop genuine peace and
followed the laws literally love among Yidden.