We are entering a special and holy time of year, a time that every Yid can stand up to be a loyal ally of Hashem, to be from those who love and care deeply about the state of the Shechinah. These are weeks of closeness and connection, when we can forge a strong bond with Hashem in a way that is much more difficult than at other times of the year.
“Kol rodefe’ha hisigo’ha bein hametzarim, All her pursuers overtook her, in the narrow places.” The simple meaning of this passuk in Eichah is that the pursuers of the Jewish people overtook them during these 3 weeks (between 17 Tammuz and 9 Av), which are referred to as Bein Hametzarim. But we can also read the “her” as the holy Shechinah; all those who pursue the Shechinah during Bein Hametzarim will reach Her!
The holy Baal Shem Tov said about this passuk: “These weeks are days when the forces of evil have strength, and therefore those who strengthen themselves to overpower the yetzer hara during this time, and reflect on their actions and work towards improving them (and particularly in matters of Kedusha), can reach the Shechinah with ease during these times. One who is paying attention during this time will see this clearly.”
The passuk in Eichah even goes so far as to call Tisha B’Av a Mo’ed! “Kara elai mo’ed lishbor bachurai, He has proclaimed a mo’ed against me to break my young men.” The Beyam Darkecha asks: how can the time that Klal Yisroel is being broken be called a Mo’ed, which we associate with a joyous Yom Tov?!
The Beyam Darkecha answers that a Mo’ed is a time that there is a special ohr, a unique spiritual energy that is being sent down from the heavens. This Mo’ed gives us the opportunity to come closer to Hashem. But how we receive the ohr, and how it feels when we get it, will depend on whether we have the right vessels (keilim) with which to receive it.
He brings a simple example of this concept: if guests come to your house seeking a place to stay and a meal, you can experience that in two different ways. If you feel that you have plenty of space, you can receive them with pleasantness and rejoice at the opportunity to have guests. But if you have no space and no food, and you don’t feel ready to receive them, then the entire experience of having guests becomes stressful for everyone!
The Jewish people were sent the Mo’ed of Tisha B’Av, but because they weren’t ready to receive it, it expressed itself in a very painful way, with the tragedies of Bein Hametzarim. But that does not diminish, in any way, from the fact that this time is a special and powerful opportunity to come close to Hashem.
This also does not diminish, in any way, the great love Hashem has for His beloved nation. Like a father who gives his son gifts when he behaves and disciplines him when he doesn’t, His discipline is not any less of an expression of His love for His children than His gifts. The actions of the father will vary depending on the behavior of the son, but the underlying motive is love to help the child grow, develop, and improve.
This is why Chazal teach us that these fast days, which we currently see as being sad days, will be transformed into days of rejoicing and happiness and Moadim Tovim when Moshiach comes. Then, we will be ready to receive that ohr as a radiant and joyful light!
But this does not mean that we cannot utilize these holy weeks as a Mo’ed of closeness and connection, right here and right now, even while the days express themselves as difficult days.
These are days to rise up as soldiers of the exiled King, to stand up for the honor of the Shechinah. This is a time to be from the rare few who care deeply about the concealed state of the Divine Presence, and who are mission-focused to reveal Hashem in every crack and corner of the universe. In every place that the Shechinah hides, we “go-seek,” calling Him out and making His name great again, again, and again.
We refuse to stand by idly when His name is trampled, and we aren’t misled by the illusions called “nature” and “coincidence.” We bust through constriction and confinement to spread the light of the Infinite, because we are powered by the piece of Ein Sof that is inside every Yid.
We feel the pain of the concealment of the Shechinah that is felt in every Yiddishe neshamah around the world that does not know the name of Hashem, that does not understand the immense power and the pure holiness that they have within them, a Chelek Elokai mima’al mamash.
We feel the tzar haShechinah, and we cry with Hashem, begging Him to bring us home, along with every single one of our precious brothers and sisters in every corner of the globe.
We, who love Hashem, we care.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 43.