The Knock at the Door

Anyone else dread the nine days? Every year it seems as though the same thing happens. Crazy heat waves with no escape as swimming or cooling off in the ocean is prohibited. The days lazy on with little excitement or entertainment because we can’t seem to fill them with thrilling outings, a trip to an amusement park or show, or even a therapeutic shopping trip for a new dress. The house grows quiet with the absence of music, menus seem redundant in trying unsuccessfully to reinvent nine different ways to serve cheese for dinner, and the pit in our stomachs grows deeper as we begin to dread the 25 hour fast that soon lies ahead and plan the delicious dishes we will prepare to fill our bellies once it’s finally over. Sound familiar? How many of us have this mindset (myself included)? Well, unfortunately, it is time for all of us to realize that it is not at all, what the nine days and tisha b’av is about.

These days, as Corona lingers, masks are worn, families continue to distance, and life just carries on differently than a few months ago, I often stare at the obvious changes and wonder about the meaning behind it all. Yes, we are adaptable creatures and throughout this ordeal we have learned what we are made of and how to be resilient, but isn’t there more to learn? A lesson to take away? A chance for some soul searching and real change? Maybe it’s just me, but the way I see things, the world is currently upside down. We have been shaken and woken but perhaps we fell right back asleep. What is it we are supposed to see? What meaning can we gain from it all and how can we make it better?

A long time ago, Hashem made a promise to Avraham. He told him that as a reward for placing his faith in Him and trusting him wholeheartedly, Hashem would turn him into a great nation. We are that promise. And we have been carrying Avraham’s legacy. And I surely hope that we are making him proud. But there’s another thing we need to remember. And that is that part of that promise was for us to live in Hashem’s land - the gift that He gave to Avraham and to us. We waited many years to enter the land of promise. And obtaining it did not come easy to our ancestors. First, they had to wait in the hot and dry desert. Then, they sent spies and scouts and planned how to conquer it and survive. And at long last, after much time and toil, the land became ours. The land was blessed and flourished under our care. We built a beautiful home for Hashem’s shechina to rest and we lived a fulfilling life for awhile. Until we were kicked out by G-d Himself. Twice we were banished, and today we remain in the same Galut we were sent to, over 2,000 years ago. And that my friends is where our heads and hearts should be during the nine days and Tisha B’av. I know it is hard to feel the fires that burned down our precious beit hamikdash. Especially when we are surrounded by the comforts and security walls we have built for ourselves that make it so easy to forget. But this year, Hashem has given us physical signs to shake us out of our slumber and awaken the fire that burns from within our souls. Corona, anti semitism and the tumultuous ground of uncertainty is there to ignite the fire of our neshama. “Wake up! “ it screams. “Take me home!” It begs. Tisha B’av is a reminder of what we have lost. Today, yesterday, and two thousand years ago. It is a time to reflect on our behaviors, our actions, our thoughts and our mindsets. It’s a chance for us to ponder and wonder how we can access that closeness we once had to our father and an opportunity to yearn for it once again. And it is a chance to ask our father if we can finally come home.

It is during these times where although hidden, Hashem is finally revealing Himself to us, if only we know where to look. He has required us to wear masks, because perhaps our speech is not what it should be. We are required to distance, because just maybe, we have not been treating each other and cherishing those opportunities in the way we should. Our chance to freely and openly visit our home has been taken from us because perhaps we didn’t want to stay.

Tisha B’av is a chance to reflect but it is also a chance to yearn - to desire change and to make it happen. It is a chance for hope - for better days to come. And if we can look deep enough inside our souls this year and make a conscious effort to become better people and do what is right, then maybe, we will be lucky enough for this year to be our last Tisha b’av that ends in sadness.

Look around! The Geula is here. It is knocking at our door. The question is, are we ready to open it?