Har HaBayit BiYadeinu! Reflections for Tisha B’Av
The Nine Days are, unfortunately, here once again. One more year of mourning for the lost Beit Hamikdash. One more year of introspection into what we have not done to sufficiently merit its rebuilding after the coming of Moshiach, in keeping with the famous dictum of Chazal, " Every generation that does not merit the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash, is considered as if it was destroyed in their time” (Yerushalmi Yoma 1:1). We will, in addition to reading Eicha, saying Kinos, and mourning, wait to be enlightened by the wonderful work of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation and a great assortment of other sources as to what societal ills we might think about this year, in order to lessen unwarranted hatred (Sinat Chinam) and other personal sins. This is important work, and in fact, as many have pointed out, perhaps the onset of the Teshuva process that continues with Elul and culminates on Yom Kippur. It is incumben...