Perhaps, then, this is the message of the story that was included in sefer haminhagim. Perhaps it is the fact that recording the minhagim of Tisha B’Av, together with those of the other Yomim Tovim, automatically necessitates a certain disclaimer. True, there is no choice but to record these minhagim as well, in order for people to know what to do if need be, but let no one think that we in any way equate this ‘Yom Tov’ with the others in the sefer. If the unhappy day takes place, there are customs and laws that we have to follow, but we would be perfectly agreeable if the Almi-ghty would deprive us of this holiday altogether!
Imagine hearing about a new shul being built that is equipped for all Yomim Tovim and occasions. It has a built in chair for kiseh shel Eliyohu for brissim, a roofless room for Sukkos and a built-in sink near the aron for birkas Kohanim etc. The benches are even built in a way that they can be reversed and serve as low chairs that are just right for Tisha B’Av.
You stop and think, hey! What was that?! Of course, on Tisha B’Av we have rules of what we may sit on and we have to figure out ways to follow them (some more creative and some less so). But is that what you have in mind when designing your shul? For Tisha B’Av? For Golus?!
If the time comes, then figure out how to deal with it. But that shouldn’t be something to plan for, to design a shul for! [Design a shul, if anything, with built in seatbelts on all the benches, so that when it flies on the clouds to Eretz Yisroel, no one will be endangered by any unexpected turbulence!]
Perhaps the message in sefer haminhagim is a reminder of what our perspective is: Yes, there are minhagim (and halachos) for Tisha B’Av as well, but hey, don’t think it’s something we’re looking forward to. We’ll be perfectly agreeable to do without it altogether.
