Chazal (Gittin 55:) say, ירושלים חרוב קמצא ובר אקמצא, "Yerushalayim was destroyed because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza." We understand the connection between the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash and Bar Kamtza. He slandered the Jewish nation and roused the wrath of the Roman emperor. But how did Kamtza cause the Churban?
The Maharsha writes that perhaps Kamtza was the father of Bar Kamtza. Following this approach, we can explain that Kamtza, the father, also bears responsibility for the Churban. This is because Kamtza never trained Bar Kamtza to avoid machlokes. Had he trained his son to pursue peace, to forgive and forget, and to remain silent during a machlokes and when humiliated, Bar Kamtza would have reacted very differently when he was offended. So Kamtza is also to blame for the Churban.
Yirmiyahu HaNavi advised Tzidkiyahu HaMelech to make a peace treaty with the king of Bavel. Yirmiyahu told him (Yirmiyahu 38: 17-18), "Hashem said, if you go out to the officers of the king of Bavel [to make peace with them], the city [Yerushalayim] will not be burned, and you and your family will live. But if you do not go to them, this city will be conquered... They will burn it in fire, and you will not survive."
The Rebbe of Kamarna zy'a asks, since the decree for the destruction of Yerushalayim was already sealed in heaven, how could Tzidkiyahu’s going out to the officers of Bavel help? The answer is that humility has the power to annul harsh decrees. If Tzidkiyahu had surrendered humbly, it would have protected Klal Yisrael, and the Beis HaMikdash would have been spared.
