Page 23 - HaMizrachi # 21 Tisha B'Av 2020 USA

WOMEN’S VOICES

Mrs. Shira Smiles
COMING

CLOSER

hile Tisha B’Av is a day bereft of giving. I will go, says G-d, Yisrael. “How can you say I have
of mourning for the to the innermost chambers to cry, not become impure, I have not
Wdestruction of both Batei where even you, the archangel, are followed Ba’al,” admonishes the
Mikdash, it is referred to in our holy forbidden to enter. I will go into the prophet, when the evidence is right
writings as a moed, a holiday. How hearts of every one of My people. there. It is for this abnegation of
could a day of such sadness and Perhaps they will again recognize responsibility, of “I have not sinned”
tears, when G-d’s Presence left its My Presence within the sanctuary that G-d is punishing Bnei Yisrael
earthly abode and became distant of their hearts and return to Me and Jerusalem. With the destruction
from us, be designated a holiday? with love as I stay with them. of the Beit HaMikdash, the eyes of
Bnei Yisrael opened up and they
The Siftei Chaim teaches us that This is HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s cry, realized the extent of their sins.
once G-d removed His Presence echoed in the first word of Megillat They had not yet re-established the
from the Beit HaMikdash and Eicha. Jeremiah cried, “ה ָ כי ֵ א – how closeness with HaKadosh Baruch
the enemy burned it down, His is it possible…” and G-d cries out, Hu, but at least they could now
Presence was no longer openly as He did to Adam, “ה ָּ כֶּי ַ א – Where acknowledge their responsibility
manifest in the world. The Beit are you.” Where are you? Where is in creating the distance from Him
HaMikdash devoid of G-d’s your heart? Are you searching for and yearn for the repair of the
Presence remained an edifice of the connection to your Maker? Are relationship. This awakening alone
mere stone and mortar. As such, you a conduit for G-d’s blessings to merited celebration as a holiday.
our awareness of His Presence in flow down to Earth? When we hear
our lives became dimmed. It’s as if Eicha on Tisha B’Av, we should be Our problem today is we don’t
the clouds descended to obscure asking ourselves ה ָּ כֶּי ַ א? We should realize what we are missing. Even
the sunlight. The sunlight of be asking ourselves why we have the mitzvot we do, we do more
G-d’s Providence was still here, left Torah, and how we can facilitate through habit than as a means of
but we could not recognize it. All kiruv, and approach a closeness to facilitating G-d’s renewed open
of Creation felt the distancing of G-d again. We should recognize the Presence on earth. Our perspective
G-d’s Presence. While Bnei Yisrael intrinsic loss, and not just the trials in our daily life should be greater
cried by the waters of Babylon, G-d and travails that Galut has brought than performing the letter of the
Himself also cried. upon us. law. We should be focused on
making G-d’s Presence manifest
The Siftei Chaim continues. An The Netivot Shalom uses this idea to in the world again, as it was in
archangel then approached G-d and understand why the Megillah says the time of the Temple, by using
suggested that he cry and not G-d, this day will be called a holiday. He our words and actions to this end
for he is the angel responsible for explains that besides closeness and rather than for rote observance.
the manifestation of G-d’s Presence distance, there is another kind of Even seemingly mundane tasks,
in the world as a result of Bnei relationship: the worst level is when like earning a living, caring for our
Yisrael’s good deeds. Bnei Yisrael you think you’re close and don’t children, can be viewed as doing
were at fault for no longer being the even recognize that the relationship G-d’s work on Earth and bringing
recipient of G-d’s beneficence, not has deteriorated or non-existent. His Presence closer. Our fast on
G-d. But G-d responds that He too When you rationalize your evil, Tisha B’Av should arouse this
needs to cry, for there is a vacuum sinful or abusive actions into the yearning within us.
and desecration in G-d’s Presence belief they are in fact righteous and
on Earth. He cannot rain down beneficial.
blessings of goodness because Bnei Mrs. Shira Smiles is a sought-after
Yisrael has destroyed the tools that The Siftei Chaim cites the prophet international lecturer, a popular seminary
bring the closeness of HaKadosh Jeremiah in showing that this teacher, and an experienced curriculum
Baruch Hu to Creation, and He is mindset had corrupted Bnei developer

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