R’ Meir Schapiro, founder of the illustrious Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, travelled far and wide to raise the vast funds that were needed to maintain his Yeshiva. During the course of his travels, he had many interesting encounters, amongst which was the following: Once, when R’ Meir Schapiro approached a wealthy man for a donation, he was met with a challenge: “It says in the mishna ‘this is the way to study Torah, you should eat bread with salt, drink water, and sleep on the ground and toil in Torah.’ How, then, can you expect people to give you money to provide your students with luxurious sleeping accommodations and abundant food?!”
With a twinkle in his eye, R’ Meir responded with a story (though not necessarily historically accurate):
Once, the Alter Rebbe (the Baal HaTanya), in an effort to try to extinguish the flames of controversy between Chassidim and misnagdim, decided to personally visit the Gra (the Vilna Gaon) in an attempt to placate him. It was not long after Pesach, when the Alter Rebbe arrived at the doorstep of the Gra, seeking conciliation. The Gra, however, was incensed.
“Just today”, he thundered while banging his fist on the table for emphasis, “I was informed that the local Chassidim had the audacity to recite the Halel in their minyan on the first night of Pesach. How dare they?! Don’t they know that Rema states unequivocally that this is NOT our custom?! Such insolence is unforgiveable!!”
The Alter Rebbe responded with a gentle voice and a smile, “And were you present when the Rema made this statement? Why do you assume that the Rema proclaimed it in a thunderous voice, while banging his fist on the table?! Perhaps, rather, he said it in a respectful, apologetic and admiring way: ‘Regretfully, we, Ashkenazim, unfortunately never had that beautiful practice of reciting the Halel in shul on the night of Pesach”.
“I say the same to you”, R’ Meir concluded to his challenger, “why do you read the mishna as a demand and directive? Perhaps, rather, it is said in a regretful tone of voice: ‘How sad and unfortunate it is that this is the way of Torah, that the Torah students are neglected and deprived to such a degree, that they end up eating bread and sleeping on the floor etc., and yet they continue to diligently toil in Torah!”
In a sefer, it was impossible to convey the tone of voice. This, perhaps, was, therefore, the objective of the story. To ensure that we associate them with the appropriate ‘tone of voice’. We don’t say “Wow, Tisha B’Av is coming up, let’s get ready”, whether by stocking up on onions (to help open up the tear ducts) or by stocking up for our berelach arsenal. If the sun sets on the unhappy eve, then we duly mourn, but it is with great regret and by lack of choice that we face the prospect of another Tisha B’Av in Golus. With a heartfelt complaint to the One Above: ‘Since when do You consider us so deserving? Why have you not yet taken back Your ‘holiday’ from us?’
So if you’re on the planning committee for the Tisha B’av camper counselor baseball game (if you found a Rov lenient enough to permit such a game on such a day), or if you’re in charge of scheduling the annual “Buck-buck” competition (if you found a Rov who was drunk enough to permit such an activity on any day); - remember that this is not our place nor our position, and it is with the greatest feeling of regret that we associate ourselves with any aspect of this day (including those bizarre minhagim).
