Even Just One Moment
A king once gifted his son a beautiful set of royal clothing, but the prince was careless and ruined it. The king gave him a second set, only for it to be ruined again. For the third, he withheld the garments, showing them to his son each year and saying, “When I see you’re ready, I’ll give them to you.” The Kedushas Levi explains that this is the essence of Shabbos Chazon. Hashem reveals the third Beis HaMikdash—not physically, but as a vision—and tells us, “When you show you’re prepared, I’ll grant it to you.”
Sefer Devarim reviews the Torah and opens with Moshe recalling his victories over Sichon and Og. Oddly, Moshe needed Hashem’s reassurance only with Og. Rashi explains that Og had a merit: he once told Avraham that Lot had been captured, which led to Lot’s rescue. Although Og’s intent was selfish—he hoped Avraham would die so he could take Sarah—the act still carried merit.
This seems puzzling. Why should an act fueled by lustful intent earn reward? Rav Dovid Kviat teaches that even mitzvos done with selfish motivations—like giving tzedakah for one’s child's success—still count. Og’s act led to saving Lot, regardless of the underlying intent. Rav Zundel Salanter emphasizes that Moshe feared Og because even a single mitzvah has immense power. If Moshe worried about Og’s one act, then how great is the power of a mitzvah done with pure intent by any Jew.
Tishah B’Av is a time to reflect not only on destruction, but also on rebuilding. The Beis HaMikdash was destroyed by sinas chinam, but it can be rebuilt with ahavas chinam. Even one act can tip the scales. We often underestimate our power—one sincere gesture of kindness reverberates across generations. Just as Og’s impure action earned merit, our pure intentions can restore what was lost.
Rav Chaim Weintraub, known for inspiring at-risk youth in Israel, once suffered the heartbreaking loss of a three-year-old son. During shivah, some gang-affiliated teens he had mentored came to honor the boy by committing to keep one Shabbos—no phones, no smoking, no driving. Someone questioned, “It’s sweet, but what difference does one Shabbos make?” Rav Chaim replied, “To have my child back for even one Shabbos, I’d give everything I own. Now, our Father in Heaven will have eight sons back for one Shabbos—imagine His joy.”
As we approach Shabbos Chazon and Tishah B’Av, we must realize that even one moment of connection matters. Even just one Shabbos. Just one tefillah. One thought that says, “Hashem, I miss You.” In that moment, we’re not just remembering a building—we’re reconnecting with our Father, awaiting the day on which He hands us back the royal garments.
