Today is Tisha B’Av. One of the reason’s for the destruction of the Second temple was Sinat Hinam. Sinat Hinam is gratuitous hatred.
The Beit HaMikdash – was destroyed from a domino effect that started from a person being embarrassed in public.
There was a man who made a party. He had a friend named Kamtza.
He told his servant – call Kamtza to come to the party. The servant called Bar Kamtza – the man’s enemy.
Bar Kamtza – came to the party. The Host did not understand why Bar Kamtza was there. He said “I want this person to leave my party.” Bar Kamtza – said “Please don’t send me out. I’ll pay for my meal.” The Host said “No. I want you to leave.”
Bar Kamtza – said “Please don’t send me out. I’ll pay for half of the feast.” The Host said “No. I want you to leave.”
Bar Kamtza – said “Please don’t send me out. I’ll pay for the entire feast.” The Host said “No. I want you to leave.”
Bar Kamtza was sent out. He was so upset that no one protested – even the sages that were present – that he went to the Roman government & told them that the Jewish people were rebelling against the Roman government.
He told the Romans – here is a proof – send a Korban – offering to the Beit HaMikdash / Jewish Temple and you will see they will not accept it.
The King sent a Choicest calf – called an Egla Tilsa – as a sacrifice. Bar Kamtza took the calf and made a blemish on the calf before he brought it to the Beit Hamikdash. In the end – The Jews did not offer the sacrifice – because it had a blemish.
There were ways to save the situation – but Zecahria ben Akulas – dissuaded the people from giving the Korban.
The king saw that the sacrifice was not accepted. He sent his best general Neron Kesar. Nero went to do battle against Jerusalem. Neron was a thinking person. He reasoned – I know that G-d / Hash-m wants to destroy the Temple and He wants me to be the agent to destroy it. He reasoned perhaps if he – Nero – did destroy Jerusalem – G-d would punish him for doing so.
He asked a child for the verse he learned that day – to see if he really would be punished for destroying Jerusalem. The Boy responded “I will send my wrath on Edom – who destroyed my temple.”
He ran away and converted to Judaism. Because he did so – he had the Zechut to have a descendant -the great Tanna – Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess.
Close to the Three Weeks one of my cousins passed away. Rabbi Saban – said at a eulogy – at the 7th day. Emmanuel was peaceful. He shied away from dispute and hatred. He said – we can learn from him to avoid dispute. He asked : What is Sinat Hinam / Gratuitous Hatred? We don’t just hate a person for no reason – so what is gratuitous hatred? He said – at times someone does something against us – let’s say take our money or insult us. It was decreed from Heaven that we should be punished in that way. The person who did the act was a just an agent.
Let’s make peace. Let’s let go of animosity. Let’s forgive and Rebuild the Third Beit Hamikdash. Amen.
My Computer crashed yesterday. It wasn’t the first time. A long while back I had Microsoft Windows. I got the “Blue Crash Screen”. I had to figure out how to get my computer back up. I tried their recommended methods. No avail. I tried another version of Windows – but I had to find that Windows key to get it back. Didn’t work. Finally I just backed up my files and installed a new Operating System instead of Windows – Linux. Fedora to be exact. Yesterday I just reinstalled Fedora again.
The Torah Talks of Reincarnated Souls
Speaking with the Autists
The Hebrew months have an influence on the world. In Adar – when Purim falls – it is a month of rejoicing for the Jews. In Av – it is a month of difficulty.
In Parasha Matot – G-d Tells Moshe / Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites. Moshe sends Pinhas. Why did Moshe not do it himself? Moshe had gratitude towards Midian. He took refuge there when he ran away from Egypt.
“And Hash-m said to Moshe… ‘When you sell goods to your people [you shall not wrong one another]’ (Leviticus 25:1-14).” Another verse: “Life and death and in the hand of the tongue”… Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel said to Tavi his servant, “go purchase for me the best food from the market.” He went and bought for him a tongue. He said to him “go purchase for me the worse food from the market.” He went out and bought him a tongue. He said to him, “What is this? When I say to you to the best food, you buy me a tongue, and when I say to you the worst food, you [also] buy me tongue!” [Tavi] said to him, this is the best and this is the worst! When it is good, there is none better than it, and when it is bad, there is no worse than it.”
Strive for Truth
Ok. I ended the title with a preposition – “UP”. In grammar you’re allowed – but it is less formal. It sounds a little better than “Lift Up Yourself”. OK.
You lost lotto. The Jackpot. $500 Million. Ok – maybe next time.