The Chofetz Chaim presents a mashal [parable], a man goes to shul in the morning and approaches a wealthy man with a request: “You knew my father well and you were true friends. Therefore, I request of you in the merit of your friendship with my father, have mercy on me and help me with a large donation.” The wealthy man told him, “True, I loved your father, and so come to my office in a certain building and I would be very happy to help you.” The next day the man came to shul and went to the wealthy man with the same request. The wealthy man replied, “I already told you yesterday that you should come to my office, and I would be happy to help you.” On the third day the man again went to the wealthy man with the same request, the wealthy man was stunned, “If you really want my help, why don’t you come to my office as I’ve told you?! And if you don’t come it shows that you really don’t want my help...”
Based on this mashal, the Chofetz Chaim explains how the person looks when he comes every day and requests: 'בעבור אבותינו שבטחו בך... רחם עלינו ותן בליבנו בינה... והאר עינינו בתורתך' – ‘for the sake of our forefathers who trusted in you... have mercy on us, instill understanding in our hearts... enlighten our eyes in Your Torah’, it is as if HaKadosh Baruch Hu answers us, “Come to the Bais Medrash – the place where I distribute the ‘understanding to understand and elucidate’, and there I will give you your request.” But the man does not go to the Bais Medrash, and he asks again the next day. The matter is understood.
A while ago, a story was circulating about a family whose house burned down lo aleinu, and all of Israel got together to help them. If we would see the son of the man whose house burned down in those days leisurely walking around with glee as if nothing had happened, what would we think of that boy? Better that we do not think, for to our dismay this is how we exactly appear. In Shemona Esrei we beseech ‘May You return in compassion to Yerushalayim Your city’, we really want the Bais HaMikdash, but how is it possible that this does not pain us?
During these days when the Bais HaMikdash was destroyed is the proper time to arouse in our hearts the immense pain of the Shechina, and we should feel that pain. We should yearn to see the Bais HaMikdash in its splendor. Chazal said, “Whoever mourns for Yerushalayim will merit to see it in its joy”. May this happen soon.
-Tiv HaNechama
