Page 6 - HaMizrachi # 21 Tisha B'Av 2020 USA

TORAT MIZRACHI MIZRACHI EDUCATORS

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin

Channeling Loneliness

Eicha Yashva Badad meaningful relationship with Hashem to reflect and appreciate the rela-
M egillat Eicha opens by out Him. Dveikut with another is only 28). This reflection leads to a return
hinges on people feeling lonely with-
tionships he or she has abused (3:27-
surprise
expressing
at
possible when one feels for no one
to Hashem later in the perek – “Let
Yerushalayim’s and the
Jewish people’s loneliness and iso- else. us search and try our ways and turn
lation. This loneliness is the cen- These kinds of relationships help back to Hashem. Let us lift up our
tral theme of the entire first perek, people find true and meaningful sup- heart with our hands to G-d in the
which describes how the city once port and strength. Ya’akov Avinu’s heavens. We have transgressed and
full of people has become like a relationship with Hashem helped have rebelled...” (3:40-42)
widow (1:1), all her friends have him vanquish the mysterious 5 ׁשי ִ א Am Yisrael has gotten the mes-
betrayed her and become her ene- and we – his descendants – learn sage. Hashem orchestrated the mass
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mies (1:2, 19), and she has become from him how to find similar celes- betrayal and isolation so we would
like a nida (1:8). The perek empha- tially-inspired strength – ’ה בַּ גׂ ְ שִנ ְ ו appreciate the need to turn and
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sizes four times (1:2, 9, 16, 21) that ֹוּד ַ ב ְ ל. When we live this way, we and return to Him.

no one cares enough to even offer Hashem share a mutually exclusive
consolation. It is this that Yirmiya relationship – alone with each other. Tisha B’Av 5780
cries for – י ִני ֵ ע י ִני ֵ ע הָּי ִ כ ֹוב י ִנ ֲ א ה ֶּ ל ֵ א ל ַ ע This relationship, described in Shirat
י ׁ ִ ש ְ פ ַנ בי ׁ ִ ש ֵ מ ם ֵ ח ַנ ְ מ יִּנ ֶּ מ ִ מ ק ַ ח ָ ר י ִּ כ םִי ַּ מ ה ָ ד ְ רֹי. Ha’azinu as ר ָ כֵנ ל ֵ א ֹו ּ מ ִ ע ןי ֵ א ְ ו ּוּנ ֶ חְנַי ד ָ ד ָּ ב ’ה Even with our return to Israel and
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allows for true security 9 10 – ן ּ ֹכ ׁ ְ שִּי ַ ו the building of our own State, we
Loneliness in the Torah ד ָ ד ָּ ב ח ַ ט ֶּ ב ל ֵ א ָ רׂ ְ שִי. remain isolated and lonely. This year,
The difficulty of loneliness is already that loneliness is reinforced by the
Corona-forced separation from one
described by the Torah. Moshe ref- The Eicha Call to Hashem another. May we learn to internalize
erences it in the words יּ ִ ד ַ ב ְ ל אׂ ָּ ש ֶ א ה ָ כי ֵ א Appreciating this, Megillat Eicha the message of this loneliness and
(Devarim 1:12). The burden of Jewish channels its sense of loneliness channel it towards a turn and return
leadership is difficult; carrying it towards a relationship with Hashem. to Hashem asking Him to return us
alone is unbearable. In fact, Hashem Perek Aleph ends with a call to to Him. May our doing so merit His
identifies loneliness as what makes Hashem – “I called for my lovers but response.
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Man incomplete as single – בֹוט אלֹ they deceived me… See Hashem for
ֹוּד ַ ב ְ ל ם ָ ד ָ א ָ ה תֹוי ֱ ה. When we are alone is I am in distress… There is none to
also when we are most vulnerable. comfort me” (1:19-21). 1 Bereishit 2:18.
The Torah emphasizes that Ya’akov 2 Ibid 32:25.
Avinu was attacked when he was Perek Bet emphasizes that Hashem 3 Bamidbar 23:9.
alone – ֹו ּ מ ִ ע ׁשי ִ א ק ֵ ב ָ אֵּי ַ ו ֹו ּ ד ַ בְ ל בֹק ֲ עַי ר ֵ תָּ וִּי ַ ו. is the One who has brought the suf- 4 See HaEmek Davar about the importance
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fering. It is His way of calling us to of Jews retaining their unique distinct
Am Levadad Yishkon turn to Him. “Hashem has done that identity and not assimilating.
which He devised. He has fulfilled 5 See Seforno 32:26 based on Shir Hashirim
All this having been said, being alone His word that He commanded in days Rabbah 3:9.
is not always a bad thing. Bilam’s of old. Arise, cry out in the night: in 6 See Rashi Bamidbar 23:9 based on the
blessings include a description of the beginning of the watches pour out targumim.
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the Jewish People as ן ּ ֹכ ׁ ְ שִי ד ָ ד ָ ב ְ ל ם ָ ע – a your heart like water opposite Hash- 7 See Bereishit Rabbah 77:1.
blessing because our separation from em’s face…” (2:17-19). 8 Devarim 32:12.
other nations helps us focus on our 9 Ibid 33:28.
relationship with Hashem. Loneli- The pivotal, personal Perek Gimmel 10 With the relationship with Hashem
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ness makes real relationships possible. recognizes that Hashem has isolated available to all of us at all times, no Jew is
Love builds off two people’s loneliness us from the rest of the world to focus ever alone
and crystallizes into marriage when us on our relationship with Him. Suf- Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational
the two commit to one another to the fering can sometimes be good and Director of Mizrachi and Dean of the
exclusion of all others. Similarly, a helpful for one who needs to be alone Yeshivat HaKotel Overseas Program

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