| Every year on the Hebrew calendar we inevitably | | | | extreme example: |
| arrive at the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av | | | | Most people are aware of the Jewish custom of |
| (Tisha B'Av). It is considered on the Jewish calendar to | | | | stepping on a glass at the end of a wedding. But few |
| be the most tragic day the Jewish people know. This | | | | are aware of the reason, and of the those who are |
| is the date when the Babylonians destroyed our first | | | | aware of the reason, few appreciate it. |
| Temple (Beit HaMikdash) in Jerusalem in 586 BCE, and | | | | Here we stand at what's supposed to be the highlight |
| the Romans later destroyed our second one in 70 CE. | | | | of our lives, and we smash a glass to remind |
| The Temple in Jerusalem was the epicenter of all | | | | ourselves that despite all of our joy, things are not as |
| spirituality of the Jewish people. This sacred site | | | | good as they're supposed to be. We still don't have |
| remains unbuilt to this day. | | | | our Temple! |
| One might ask the question: We have been living | | | | You might wonder: Can't we ever have any joy |
| without a Temple for nearly 2,000 years. Why in the | | | | without misery? Is there anything such as |
| world are we still gathering in synagogues, weeping | | | | unadulterated pleasure? Why in the world do we need |
| and fasting, praying to go back to the way it was so | | | | to think of past tragedies at a wedding, at the peak |
| very long ago? | | | | moment of joy that we know!? |
| And why are we inserting things into our traditions to | | | | Why? |
| constantly remind us of the Temple? We have scores | | | | Because we're NEVER supposed to stop thinking |
| of traditions we call "zecher l'mikdash" to remind | | | | about the Temple! |
| ourselves that the way we're doing things is just a | | | | It's the end game. It's the goal. It's where we need to |
| temporary method of worship and service of God until | | | | be. Even at our greatest moments of personal |
| we can back to the good old days. There's even a | | | | pleasure we should not be losing focus, we should not |
| widespread tradition to leave a patch of your house | | | | take our eye off the ball. |
| unpainted as a a constant reminder that our Temple | | | | May the Temple in Jerusalem be restored to the |
| remains in ruin! | | | | Jewish people speedily in our days. |
| But the answer to all of this really lies in the most | | | | |