Page 230 - BAMIDBAR

Tishah b’Av is a day of sorrow. Therefore, Torah study, which gladdens
the heart, is prohibited on it. This is a direct punishment for Bnei Yisrael’s
sin atthe timeofthe churban, which was forsaking the Torah. Yet,
announcing an engagement is permitted during the days preceding Tishah
b’Av, in spite of the joy inherent therein. This is because every additional
Jewish home adds a stone to the building of the future Beit Hamikdash.

Nevuchadnezzar was a descendant of Shlomo Hamelech. Shlomo was
punished in this way because he attempted to hasten the arrival of
Mashiach by converting numerous princesses to Judaism through
marriage. Hashem’s plan is that each and every individual do his part in
bringing Mashiach closer, and not rely on the tzaddikim of the generation
to do the work for us. # 26347-EYAL-6