BEARING SIMULTANEOUS WEEPING AND LAUGHTER

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

It is coming up Tisha BeAv fast on Thursday, (for the destruction of both Temples and other tragedies), and so I thought to do this week's email early, and share some thoughts from the week.

Likutei Sichos of the Rebbe vol 19 p67 (very summarized)

Tractate Gemorra Makos concludes with 2 stories of Rabbi Akiva's reaction to tragedy

• Once Rabbi Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Akiva were travelling together when they heard the sounds of celebration in Rome 120 mil away (a great distance)

They started to cry (because they who are heathens live in safety and ease and celebration, while our home , the Footstool of our G-d , is burned down by fire.)

Rabbi Akiva laughed and replied "If this is what happens to those who transgress His Will, how much more so awaits those who fulfill His Will."

• Another time they were ascending together to Yerushalayim. When they came to Mount Scopus, from where they could see the ruin of the Temple, they tore their clothes (as prescribed by law). When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the place of the Holy of Holies.

They started to cry, because such a Holy site in the Temple was now a haunt of foxes.

Rabbi Akiva laughed and explained "So long as Uriah's threatening prophesy had not been fulfilled, I was afraid that Zechariah's positive prophesy about Jerusalem would likewise not be fulfilled. Now that I see that Uriah's prophecy has been fulfilled, (about the destruction of Yerushalayim) I know that the prophecy of Zechariah will also be fulfilled in the future!

They said to him these words "AKIVA YOU HAVE COMFORTED US. AKIVA YOU HAVE COMFORTED US.".......

And a connected lesson that I learnt about Tisha BeAv, is that even although the day is one of immense tragedy and mourning, and the King of all kings, Hashem, commands us to fast and say the Kinot because of this , it can also be done in a way of joy.

Because the same King of kings has commanded us to SERVE HIM WITH JOY.

Tisha BeAv will soon be converted into a day of great celebration, when we will no longer have to bear opposites together in our hearts. May it be this year.

Gut Shabbos to all