Dear Friends,
I’m writing this not as a criticism, but to share a sincere question.
Lately, I’ve noticed many advertisements promoting speeches and programs in preparation for Tisha B’Av. But this raises a sincere question:
We say every day—and genuinely believe—that Moshiach can come at any moment, Iy”H even this very minute. If so, why are we preparing so early for Tisha B’Av? Shouldn’t we be holding out hope and planning for Geulah instead of organizing events for mourning?
Of course, if Chas v’shalom Moshiach doesn’t come by Motzaei Shabbos, then we’ll sit down, say Kinnos, and cry over the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. But until then, shouldn’t our focus be on tefillah, tikun, and hope?
Imagine a child sitting at the bedside of a very sick parent. While the parent is still alive, would the child start preparing a hesped for the LEVAYA? Of course not. They would Daven, hope, and do everything they could for the recovery of their parent. If chas v’shalom the worst happens, they would begin to think about a HESPID.
So too with us—we are still “at the bedside” of our precious Beis Hamikdash. Let’s hope. Let’s believe. Let’s prepare for the best.
May we all be zocheh to greet Moshiach before this Tisha B’Av!
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Thank you for your letter. I appreciate your sincerity on the matter. However, let’s think about it a little bit more. Chazal established the 3 weeks followed by a Halacha that when AV starts we are mimaet b’simcha. As well there are many Halachos and customs that we do throughout the year to remember the churban.
You gave an analogy that it’s like a parent preparing for a funeral before the child passes away. However, in our analogy the child passed away already! We are in Galus for 2000+ years already! We are not just going through the motions of the calendar year, being happy there and being sad there. We are not just mourning to do the act, we are actually, currently and actively in galus! We should be having these speeches every month, every week and everyday to remind ourselves and mourn the churban and our current galus! The tzadikim of yesteryear and many heilige people even in our generation always think and talk about the churban. So yes, it’s good to be a meiman and believe that Mashiach will come at any second, but that itself, the fact that we are promoting the “hesped”, the fact we are preparing for the day of Tisha baav may even be the zechus that will bring the geulah! In yiddishkeit a true Ben Aliyah always prepares for the next Yom Tov. Let’s prepare! And better yet, let’s realize that we are currently in galus for way too long and experience the geulah so very soon. Amen!
Great concern. Makes me wonder why people buy a house any bigger than a small shack. Or buy food that lasts longer than 3 days, or apply for a school more than 3 days in advance, or fill up gas on a car that lasts more then 3 days, or pretty much anything we do in our life thats for more than a few days in advance. Like, shouldn’t we expect to be in Eretz Yisroel by then?! Shame on us all!!
That was very well said. I would add one more thing: All these speeches should be given in the nine days of CHIZIK & TESHUVA so that the BAIS Hamikdosh should be built already.
Good point!
Preparing for what may come is not a lack in Emuna. It is the responsible thing to do. Your comment would make sense if the Tisha Bav preparations were done without any hope for the Geula. However all hundreds of programs and speeches being prepared are done by ehrlicha wonderful balei emunah who eagerly daven for and await the Geula but also work hard to be there for Klal Yisroel in their ace tzara.
Missaskim is a wonderful organization. They don’t want anyone to die but if that happens Klal Yisroel has a place to turn to.
We don’t want anyone to get hurt but we have Hatzoloh. We don’t want any children to be born sick but we have chai lifeline. We don’t want anyone to get cancer but we have RCCS. And the list goes on.
Thank you Hashem we have these wonderful people who while wanting the Geula are preparing for the worst case scenario.
Perhaps the better question here is are all these programs appropriate for Tisha Bav? Full fledge video productions? Inspirational stories? I remember years ago when this began and it was the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation and also Rabbi Wallerstein ZTL who created a program where one can use their tisha Bav day productively by hearing about the Geula, by getting inspired from great Gedolay Yisroel, Rabbonim and inspirational speakers. The focus was all on Tisha Bav and the avoda of the day. Not about providing entertainment to help keep you busy on the fast.
I believe still to this day if you look at the myriad of options it is the CCHF, Or Nava and now Torah Anytime that are providing a day of chizuk and inspiration specifically focused on Tisha Bav, the Churbon, Geula, and what the day is all about. Almost all of the other ones, all which are good, really have nothing to do with Tisha Bav. They are just great stories and documentaries. That may be the better question – why are we doing anything other then focusing on the Churbon and Geula?
Hopefully we won’t have one, but if we CV do then have an easy fast
Thank you for expressing my own thoughts. I agree 100% . These talks should be for pre tisha bav to wake us up. We need to focus on doing our part to make it happen and believe completely that it will. If we mourn this year too, it should be from pain that we didn’t do our part .
100%! Moshiach can come at any second, as we say Ani Ma’amin Be’emuna Shlaima Bivias Hamashisch. Yet, we have no idea when it will come. Could be in an hour, could be in 100 years. As far as I know nothing indicates that it will be here by Sunday, though it surley can.
Tisha B’AV is a signpost that another year has gone by that we were not zoche to the binyan. So in truth we should be mourning and saying hespedim every day, just Chazal limited the period to these few weeks and days.
Another year gone by in Chutz La’Aretz.
Ok, so do you practice what you preach, do you prepare an animal for a korban pesach every year?
Sometimes, I stuff a small lamb underneath my kittel, put a schmatta on my head, and try and get up onto Har Ha Bayis, but it doesn’t always end peacefully…
My Shul hires a band & caterer for Tisha B’Av “Just in case”
I read the story of a beautify community tradition regarding Tisha B’Av. Every year, after the fast, the community would take all of their kinos, and put them into geniza. This is something to seriously think about and consider.
That’s is why the paperback offer print kinnos exists, preparing for Tisha B’Av isn’t a lack of emunah, buying a kinnos to last for a lifetime may be, buying an antique leather bound kinnos most likely is.
Ok What about the people stocking up their carts at the grocery with all sorts of fancy cheeses, the dairy Shavuos- like menus, and the ads?!?! How many people reading this have showered, worn fresh clothing? Is that a better way to keep the 9 days?
Yea and my kids think it’s video day. I’m sure I’m not the only one…
because people know that they didn’t do any teshuva and they don’t deserve Moshiach.
my daughter is not in school, and schools are refusing to take her for this or that reason. this is why people prepare for tisha be av. they know sinas chinam didn’t just disappear.
Would the writer be comfortable not paying his mortgage/rent , electric bill etc…. anyway Moshiach is coming?!