Chazal note that the first day of Pesach and Tisha B’Av always fall on the same day of the week in any given year. The Jewish calendar is teaching us that redemption (Pesach) and tragedy (Tisha B’Av) are interlinked - HaShem does not make us suffer for no reason. Tragedy, suffering, and galus, are means of purifying us and pushing us to seek HaShem in a world which looks like it is devoid of His Presence. Thus, galus and tragedy are ultimately steps in bringing about our redemption. Indeed, this explains the fact that the Beis Hamikdash burnt in the afternoon of Tisha B’Av, yet that is the time when we lighten our mourning - we move to sit on normal chairs and put on Tallis and Tefillin. Surely the mourning should be increased in the afternoon if that’s when the Temple burnt? The answer is that because the destruction of the Temple was necessary to ultimately cleanse us, ensure our survival, and pave the way for a lasting redemption, at the time when the Mikdash was burning we lighten the mourning - thus recognising the ultimate good behind even the greatest tragedy. This is the real nechama that exists on Tisha B’Av.
In the Eye of the Beholder In the Megillah of Eichah (1:12), read on Tisha B'Av, we find the following statement: "Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by? Behold, and see if there is any pain like my pain, which was brought upon me, with which Hashem has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger." On first blush, the statement seems difficult to comprehend.
The prophet Yirmiya is discussing the destruction of the Bais HaMikdosh, the Holy Temple. Clearly, this loss was one felt by the entire nation of Israel. How then could Yirmiya say that, in essence to "those that pass by, it is nothing..?" Why was the destruction of the Bais HaMikdosh personalized in this passage, to the extent that Yirmiya writes "see if there is pain like my pain, which was brought upon me." Wasn't this an affliction that affected every member of the nation of Israel? The poor man and his wife were counting down the days. His wealthy cousin was marrying off his child this week, and the wedding was to be an occasion not to be missed. The celebratory meal, sure to be composed of the finest delicacies in bountiful supply, would be a welcome change from the meager rations to which he was accustomed. In order to ensure that he would be able to appreciate the vast repast at the wedding, the poor man decided that he would not eat for two days prior to the wedding. In this way, he would be able to savor every morsel and appreciate the unique assortment of sumptuous cuisine he was sure awaited him.
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Moshe Shlomo ben R'Shmuel | Shlomo ben R'Chaim | Aryeh Leib ben Pinchas Tzvi
