Why the Earthquake and How it's Connected to Galut and Geulah

Some informative info from Hakhel today:

Special Note Two: Many along the eastern coast of the United States experienced the awe of a relatively gentle earthquake yesterday. What was all the quaking about? We remind ourselves of Chazal (Brachos 59A), who teach that an earthquake is Hashem’s expression of Tza’ar over our continued Galus, and the troubles and distresses we must endure in exile. The Gemara there explains that the earthquake occurs as a result of one of several possibilities: either Hashem’s ‘two tears’ that He sheds (over our physical and spiritual suffering), or His ‘hands clapping’ over our frustration, or His ‘sighing’, or His ‘kicking’ the rokia, or ‘His forcing his feet’ under the Kisei HaKavod--each being different expressions of love and concern that Hashem has for us in this Galus--and intended to remind us that there is an END to this GALUS--as although Hashem finds this journey absolutely necessary for us--it is nevertheless both disappointing and reprehensible to Him--so much so as to warrant an earthquake to the world at large. With this in mind, we now continue with our focus on the Fourteenth Bracha of Shemone Esrei--Binyan Yerushalayim. In the Bracha, we first ask that Hashem bring his Shechinah back to Yerushalayim. Only then, do we continue with the next step of our plea--U’Vnei Osah BiKarov BiYameinu Binyan Olam. With these words, we ask that it be Hashem Himself who rebuilds Yerushalayim--so that it stand permanently (unlike the first and second Bais Hamikdash eras, when human were involved in the building and which were only temporary). Fascinatingly, HaRav Chaim Friedlander, Z’tl, points to the words in Nacheim --Ki Atta Hashem BaAish Hitzata U’VaAish Atta Asid Levnosa…Hashem You destroyed it in fire and with fire You will build it, as well. We don’t know very well how to build a city with fire--Hashem does. The Ramchal actually explains that there is a deeper concept that lies here as well: It is not only that there will be a Yerushalayim above and a Yerushalayim below, but that the new ‘rebuilding’ will include Ruchniyus from above coming down to connect to the Ruchniyus below. Thus, although there will be a semblance of physical walls around, the Ruchniyus of the heavens above will actually have a place in this world. We then specifically ask that this incomparable and eternal rebuilding occur B’Karov B’Yameinu. HaRav Friedlander notes that there are two concepts here. First, we would like it to happen B’Karov--in the immediate future. Even, however, if it does not occur this hour or this day, we still plea that it happen B’Yameinu--in our days while in Olam Hazeh!

Rebuilding the Beit Hamikdash from the Foundation

Great insights from Hakhel re Rav Schwab on building Yerushalayim!

Special Note Five: In his explanation of the Siddur (in the monumental work HaRav Schwab on Prayer, published by Artscroll), HaRav Schwab, Z’tl, asks why the brocha of “VeLirushalayim Ircha” begins with a Vav (“And”). What is the meaning of “And” here--to what is the beginning of the bracha connecting? HaRav Schwab suggests that the Vav alludes to the Yerushalayim Shel Ma’alah, where thousands, and perhaps millions, of Tzadikim who hoped and prayed for the rebuilding of Yerushalayim over the past 2,000 years now reside. When the time comes for Yerushalayim to be rebuilt, these neshamos will experience it B’shamayim together with the people who are physically experiencing the rebuilding here on earth. Moreover, HaRav Schwab teaches, although we do not really understand what it means at this time, Chazal teach that Hashem will return to the Yerushalayim Shel Ma’alah only after He has returned to the Yerushalayim Shel Matah, for He has been “absent” from the Yerushalayim Shel Ma’alah since the Churban, as well. We are thus mispallel for Hashem to return to both cities of Yerushalayim.

HaRav Schwab concludes his explanation of the Brocha with the following comforting words:

“Just as a deep foundation must be placed in the ground before a very large structure can rise, so, too, have the historical events of the Galus been the foundation for the rebuilding of the future Yerushalayim. Our entire Galus experience--and it is longer than we have hoped and thought it would be--is the deep, dark, underground pit into which the foundation of the future city ofYerushalayim is being placed. This can be compared to a construction site of a large building, which is enclosed by a wall. If a man manages to peek behind that wall, all he will see is a huge hole in the ground for the foundation. The higher the planned structure, the deeper the foundation must be. However, eventually the structure will begin rising above the wall until it reaches its completion. Similarly, HaKadosh Baruch Hu, the Boneh Yerushalayim, has been digging the foundations of the future Yerushalayim ever since the Churban Bais HaMikdash, and the rebuilding process has never ceased throughout the Galus. At the time of Bi’as HaMoshiach, the structure will be completed.” May it be speedily and in our days!

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!