Finishing the Rebuilding

Some thoughts on rebuilding from today's Darke Abotenu email:

Vayomer Yehuda - e"H Ribi Yehuda Cabessa s"t
Heleq 3, p. 135-136
Translated by Shai Cabessa s"t


The Talmud Yerushalmi (Yoma 1:1) says that a generation in which the Bet haMiqdash was not built, is as if it was destroyed in its days. This means that even if the Bet haMiqdash was standing in that generation, it would have been destroyed.

However, reading this a person might ask himself a very important question: Is our generation really greater then all those passed generations? If all the Tanaim, Amoraim and Rishonim were not able to bring Mashiah then how are we, in such a low generation, expected to do so? What are we able to do that all the great Sadiqim (Sages) throughout the ages have not already done?

To answer this we must first understand something else our Hakhamim (Sages) have taught us. The Midrash Raba (Ekha 1:41) says that when Titus destroyed the Bet haMiqdash a Voice from heaven said, "Rasha' ben Rasha', you have nothing to be proud of. You have only crushed flour which was already ground up." On a simple level this means that if not for Hashem's decision that the Bet haMiqdash should be destroyed then Titus would not have had the power to do so; therefore, it is not a such great accomplishment to destroy the Bet haMiqdash after Hashem had already decided that it should be so.

On a deeper level, it is explained in the Kitvé Ramhal that only Bené Yisrael have the capability to affect the spiritual worlds through their actions. The Nations' actions, however, can only affect the physical world. Only once the source of something in the spiritual world is destroyed, do the Nations have the power to destroy it in the physical world.

This is what our Sages meant by "you have crushed ground flour." Hashem was telling Titus that the spiritual Bet haMiqdash was already destroyed and only because of that was he able to destroy the physical Bet haMiqdash.

To take this further, everything we see in this world is only a sign that there still is a spiritual source for it in the spiritual worlds. Once the spiritual source is removed, the thing has to be destroyed in this world as well. This is just as our Sages teach us (Bereshit Raba 10:6) "There is not a blade of grass in this world that does not have an angel appointed over it to tell it to grow." This refers to the spiritual source of even a seemingly insignificant blade of grass, how much more so everything else in this world.

Based on the above, we understand that the only way to build the Bet haMiqdash in our world is to first build it in the spiritual world. With all the Tora and Misvot that we accomplish in this world, we are actually building the Third Bet haMiqdash on high.

Now that this is known to us, what we asked before is not a question anymore. Of course all the great Sadiqim of past generations have already built a tremendous part of the Bet haMiqdash in the spiritual world. The only thing left for us to do is the finishing touches here and there so that the Bet haMiqdash can come down complete in its glory. Therefore, if we all strengthen ourselves to make Teshuva (repentence), to learn a little bit more Tora everyday, and to do just a few more acts of loving kindness, we will surely finish up the Bet haMiqdash on high and merit to see it rebuilt in our physical world speedily in our days, Amen!

Let's Strengthen Ourselves in Torah and Mitzvot!

From Moroccan Daily Halakha:

Perashat Matot
e"H Ribi Kfir Dadon s"t
Translated by : Zachary Lubat s"t

Strengthening our Torah Study


In this week's perasha, we read about the request of the tribes of Gad and Reuben, both of whom had large flocks, to inherit land on the other side of the Yarden River (before the Nation crossed the Yarden into the Land of Israel). Moshé Rabenu a"h asks them if it seems right that some of the tribes could settle land peacefully, while the others have to go to war and conquer the Land of Israel. Moshé Rabenu a"h also mentions the sin of the spies of convincing the Nation not to enter the Land, and the result of that sin. He warned these tribes that they might be causing the Nation to want to inherit land outside the Land of Israel by settling this land on the other side of the Yarden River. These tribes answer Moshé Rabenu a"h that they would go to war with the Nation until all of the Land is conquered and divided; they would build houses for their families and continue on with the Nation in its journey.

The main reason Moshé Rabenu a"h was concerned about this situation was because it could have had a weakening effect on the rest of the Nation. When the rest of the Nation saw what was going on, they would likely think that the reason these tribes are settling here and not crossing into the Land of Israel is out of fear. Perhaps the nations in Israel are very strong and their cities well fortified, and this is why these tribes did not want to cross. This has a similar situation as the sin of the spies. However, when the tribes satisfied this concern by saying they would fight with the rest of the Nation the whole way through, Moshé Rabenu a"h agreed and warned them that if they did not keep to this promise, Bamidbar 32:23 "behold, you have sinned against the LORD; and know your sin which will find you." If one looks, he will see that the tribe of Menashé did not request any inheritance across the Yarden at all, so one has to wonder why Moshé Rabenu a"h places them there with Gad and Reuben. The Nesiv writes that Moshé Rabenu a"h saw that in this area the power of Torah would be weaker, so he tried to plant among them Torah giants.

Due to weakness in the study of Torah and the fulfillment of Misvot, the Bet haMiqdash was destroyed, as it says in Yirmeyahu 9:11 "Why is the land perished and laid waste like a wilderness, so that none passeth through?" And the LORD said: Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not hearkened to My voice, neither walked therein.


It is our holy obligation to strengthen ourselves in the study of Torah and the fulfillment of Misvot. This is especially important in the days of summer and vacation, to be very careful to pray in a minyan, setting time aside for the study of Torah, modesty, and so on. May it be His will that in the merit of the study of Torah and fulfillment of Misvot, we will see the building of the Bet haMiqdash and HaShem's return to Sion in His mercy!