The verse (Eicha 5:7) states: “Our fathers have sinned and are no more, and we have borne their iniquities.” My ancestor, Rav Mord’chele of Nadvorna zy”a (Sefer Maamar Mordechai) explains this verse with a story that is said about his grandfather, Rav Uren Leib of Premishlan zy”a.
Rav Uren Leib would say that he woke up to say Tikkun Chatzos, but while he was reciting it, he was already yearning to learn Mishnayos. While he was learning Mishnayos, he was already thinking about learning Zohar. And while he was learning Zohar, he was yearning to learn Gemara. And while he was learning Gemara, he was thinking about saying Tehillim. And while he was reciting Tehllim, he was anticipating davening Shacharis. He said that he did much teshuva to atone for finding it difficult to complete one mitzvah before thinking about the next.
Accordingly, the pasuk can be understood as saying that our forefathers “sinned” because they were “no more”, meaning that they considered themselves to be nothing and treated a small sin like this – thinking about one mitzvah will performing another – like a major transgression. And we “bear their iniquities”, meaning that for us, such a thing would be a source of pride to bear. If only we could “sin” the way our holy fathers did as a result of their great desire for Torah and mitzvos!
