LEAD TIDBIT We've got ourselves a "situation". We hope and pray that G-d will help the government and the IDF to succeed in their battles against the terrorists, their organizations, and the states that support, fund, and aid them. We pray for the safety and well-being of the people of the north and south who are under attack, of the soldiers who are fighting for their safety, of all of the people of Israel - here and abroad. What else can we do? Here's a multi-faceted plan... Aside from prayer - see page 14 for suggested texts - and participation in any of the activities mentioned above or other similar projects, there is something else we can do. If Tammuz and Av - if the Three Weeks from 17 Tammuz through Tish'a b'Av - have anything to do with our troubles, then perhaps we need to rectify those flaws and faults in ourselves and our community that gave Tammuz-Av its negative flavor. Tammuz and Av are not intrinsically bad. It is because what we, the Jewish People have done (or not done) that brought about the calamities that are associated with 17 Tammuz and 9Av. Eigel HaZahav (the Golden Calf) occurred on 17 Tammuz. On that day, we displayed a less than total commitment to G-d and His Torah. We pointed to the wrong things as "these are your gods, O' Israel". Perhaps some serious personal introspection and pondering to re-examine and strengthen our own belief and commitment to G-d. This is not to make a deal with G-d: You save us from our enemies and we'll believe in You in a stronger and unequivocal manner. No, not a deal. A change for the better in ourselves. Then 17 Tammuz will be only a historical note and not an indictment of our own Jewish society. Cheit HaMeraglim (the Sin of the Spies) occurred on Tish'a b'Av. On that day we displayed a marked rejection of Eretz Yisrael as THE place that the Jewish People belong. The place where G-d wants us to live our Torah lives. Perhaps some more serious thought about our commitment to living in Eretz Yisrael, to encouraging others to make Aliya, to help facilitate the K'lita of others. Perhaps some serious attention to transmitting our commitment to our children and grandchildren. The First Beit HaMikdash was destroyed because of many serious sins that are bad enough in and of themselves, but that also displayed a profound breach of our commitment to G-d. It calls for strengthening our commitment to Torah and Mitzvot. It calls for learning more Torah and learning better the Torah we currently learn. It calls for being more meticulous in the performance of mitzvot, and an increase in the quality of the attitude we have towards mitzvot. The Second Beit HaMikdash was destroyed because of Sin'at Chinam. Because of serious deficiencies in our interpersonal relationships. In a weakness of our commitment to Mitzvot Bein Adam LaMakom. In our attitude towards our fellow Jews, be they less religious, more religious, culturally different... or whatever. Our task then is more acts of kindness, more Chesed, more care and concern for our fellows, a stronger commitment to the mitzva of V'AHAVTA L'REI-ACHA KAMOCHA. Our improvement and repair of the causes of the calamities that are commemorated during the 3 Weeks, can break the hold that those tragedies have over the months of Tammuz and Av. Improvement as individuals and as a community can help thwart our enemies attempts at hurting us. Can bring about the Geula with its concomitant building of the Third Beit HaMikdash, the restoration of all of Israel to all of Israel, and true Shalom al Yisrael, BIMHEIRA B'YAMEINU AMEN. Ed. note: This Lead Tidbit was written AND printed on Sunday. You are first reading it on Wednesday or later. The MATZAV might be different, hopefully much better, but the "plan" for turning 17 Tammuz and 9 Av (and the other fast days related to the Churban) into the promised and prophesied festivals, still stands. [The Parshat Matot-Masei Homepage]
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