{"id":47656,"date":"2019-07-19T12:07:33","date_gmt":"2019-07-19T12:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?p=47656"},"modified":"2019-07-22T13:07:03","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T13:07:03","slug":"in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Three Weeks, bein ha\u2019metzarim, are naturally associated with tragedy and mourning. Yet, at the same time, our sages tell us that in the future this will be a time of great simcha. Is it a coincidence that these days of mourning will become days of joy?<\/em><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Mourning and Tomorrow\u2019s Joy<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s true, these days of mourning will become days of rejoicing, but there\u2019s more to it than that. Our sages weren\u2019t predicting the future, they were revealing the beneath-the-surface essence of these days, an essence that exists right now. Within these days is vast potential, the hidden light that is the light, the ohr, of the future redemption.<\/p>\n

In a certain way, the light that will shine through these days in the future, is a far higher light than exists in all the other holidays. This is the meaning of the idea that in the future, the redemption from Egypt will be overshadowed by the final redemption. Though this ultimate light is waiting behind the curtain of history, we come into contact with it during the Three Weeks. Ironically, it\u2019s through our pain and mourning that we meet this future light.<\/p>\n

Beit HaMikdosh, Tomorrow and Today<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yesod Gadol: Here we find an important principle. That the profound feeling of lacking we experience now is precisely what\u2019s needed to connect with the remarkable future that is just waiting to become manifest. It\u2019s the lacking, the awful sense that something essential is missing, that urges us to bring that potential out from behind the curtain and onto center stage of our life, the life of our nation. Without feeling that there is a gaping hole in Am Yisroel without the Beit HaMikdosh, we won\u2019t feel the longing for it\u2019s restoration, or be motivated to bring it about.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone that mourns over Yerusholayim, will merit to to see it\u2019s comfort and joy.\u201d <\/em>Tanit, 30a<\/em><\/p>\n

Mourning is the way we draw the joy of the future into the present.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

In life, when we feel that something is missing, we are driven to fill the void. In a sense, the very lack of something attaches us to it\u2019s rectification. This is true for each of us, and the collective all of us. The ache of missing something is an outgrowth of the awareness of what can be. The ache of missing something can lead to despair, but it mustn\u2019t. Rather, it\u2019s there to tell us that we are connected to something that\u2019s actually here, beneath the surface, something, a shleimut, that is lying in wait, and thus, is actually alive.<\/p>\n

Destruction and Redemption<\/strong><\/p>\n

The sorrow and mourning of churban, of destruction, are rays of light from the future. It\u2019s as if the future Beit HaMikdosh were calling out to us, and these calls are rays of light that shine in through windows of sadness, planting the seeds for the geula of tomorrow. Above ground, so to speak, we are in mourning, but beneath the top soil of our souls, we are rooted in the rich light of redemption. At the same time that we are in pain, we are confident, even comforted, in knowing that the future we so long for, in a sense, is here right now.<\/p>\n

Like Dreamers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cShir Ha\u2019maalot: A song of ascents; when God returns the captivity of Zion, we will be like dreamers.\u201d Tehillim 126<\/em><\/p>\n

Dreaming is a way to imagine the future.<\/p>\n

Dreaming forges the initial connection with the potent potential of a future fulfilled.<\/p>\n

Dreams are unfettered by the constraints and blemishes of the present.<\/p>\n

Dreams nourish our longing to transform the future into reality.<\/p>\n

Dreams fortify us, empower us.<\/p>\n

From, \u201cwe will be like dreamers,\u201d to \u201cthose that plant in tears, will reap with song<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears can be like seeds. And so too like rain drops.<\/p>\n

Tears liberate life from subterranean darkness.<\/p>\n

Slowly slowly the dance of dreams and tears bring forth the will reap with song of the rebuilt
\nYerusholayim.<\/p>\n

The Opportunity of Mourning<\/strong><\/p>\n

These three weeks are deep and laden with potential to connect our hearts to the Beit HaMikdosh, and to draw brilliant rays of light into our now, our today, our reality. Rays of shleimut, of filling every void, and healing every lacking.<\/p>\n

These days are the tikkun chatzot of the year.<\/p>\n

This is the time to set aside time; to be alone and to focus. To envision the Beit HaMikdosh, the future, and to open our hearts to the grandest potential. To yearn and long. For geula.<\/p>\n

This is the time to dream; and to see the Levites singing in the courtyard of the Mikdosh. To imagine Am Yisroel flowing to Jerusalem\u2014the magnificent jewel-city in it\u2019s stunning glory\u2014host to the Nation\u2019s festival gatherings.<\/p>\n

This is the precious avoda of this time period.<\/p>\n

Dreams are not just glimpses of the future,
\nthey are bridges from here to there, and back again.
\nFrom mourning to rejoicing.
\nFrom future to present.
\nFrom galut to geula unfolding.
\nAnd from our geula unfolding, to geula shleima.<\/p>\n

\n

Translated and adapted by Shimon Apisdorf<\/p>\n

To receive weekly diver Torah from Rabbi Sasson: uh.deah1@gmail.com \/ Whatsapp: +972536240891<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Three Weeks, bein ha\u2019metzarim, are naturally associated with tragedy and mourning. Yet, at the same time, our sages tell us that in the future this will be a time of great simcha. Is it a coincidence that these days of mourning will become days of joy? Today\u2019s Mourning and Tomorrow\u2019s Joy It\u2019s true, these […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133740,"featured_media":47659,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[359],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-weeks"],"yoast_head":"\nIn the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks - Jewish Holidays<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"In the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks - Jewish Holidays\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Three Weeks, bein ha\u2019metzarim, are naturally associated with tragedy and mourning. Yet, at the same time, our sages tell us that in the future this will be a time of great simcha. Is it a coincidence that these days of mourning will become days of joy? Today\u2019s Mourning and Tomorrow\u2019s Joy It\u2019s true, these […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Jewish Holidays\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OrthodoxUnion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-07-19T12:07:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-07-22T13:07:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/mountaineer-3502001_1280.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"853\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rabbi Reuven Sasson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rabbi Reuven Sasson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/\",\"name\":\"In the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks - Jewish Holidays\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/mountaineer-3502001_1280.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-07-19T12:07:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-07-22T13:07:03+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/68a3942a5688aeda503509e3c24f103a\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/mountaineer-3502001_1280.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/mountaineer-3502001_1280.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":853},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"In the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/\",\"name\":\"Jewish Holidays\",\"description\":\"Learn about Jewish holidays\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/68a3942a5688aeda503509e3c24f103a\",\"name\":\"Rabbi Reuven Sasson\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Rabbi Reuven Sasson\"},\"description\":\"Rabbi Sasson studied in yeshivot Mitzpeh Yericho and Beit El and is a student of the late Chief Rabbi R. Mordechai Eliyahu zt\u2019l, R. Shabtai Sabato (Rosh Yeshiva Mitzpeh Yericho) and Rav Nachum Rechel. He also studied pnimiut ha\u2019Torah under Rav Shalom Ullman zt\u2019l, author of Daas Elohim. Rabbi Sasson taught gemora and emunah in yeshivat Ramat Gan and elsewhere for twenty years. In 2008, he established the yeshiva in Ramat HaSharon where he teaches gemora, halacha, Tanach and emunah. His in-depth shiurim on the melachos of Shabbos were recently published under the title Talelei Orah and received warm haskamos from a number of Gedolei Yisrael. Additionally, Rabbi Sasson delivers weekly shiurim in pnimiut ha\u2019Torah that are attended by rabbis from across the country. Rabbi Sasson has authored over thirty sforim on a wide range of topics including two multi volume series, Talelei Chayim and B\u2019ohr Panecha as well as works on the writings of Rav Kook. His works have gained a wide readership in Israel. Their hallmark of his writing is the communication of deep concepts in an accessible language. His sforim have received approbations from Gedolei Yisroel including Rav Avraham Shapira zt\u2019l, Rav Shirya Dblitzky zt\u2019l, former Rishon L\u2019tzion R. Shlomo Amar ,Rav Meir Mazuz, Rav Mordechai Auerbach, Rav Gedalia Zimbalist, Rav yacov Ariel, and Rav Mordechai Atia. Rav Sassons\u2019 kehilla is devoted to building bridges of love and achdus between religious and secular sectors of Ramat Hasharon. His efforts to spread Torah via the yeshiva, the Institute and all of its projects are the outgrowth of a prayer and a desire to bring the unique Torah of this generation, the generation that is witness to the progressive return of the Shechina to Zion, to all Am Yisroel.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/author\/rabbi-reuven-sasson-2\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"In the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks - Jewish Holidays","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"In the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks - Jewish Holidays","og_description":"The Three Weeks, bein ha\u2019metzarim, are naturally associated with tragedy and mourning. Yet, at the same time, our sages tell us that in the future this will be a time of great simcha. Is it a coincidence that these days of mourning will become days of joy? Today\u2019s Mourning and Tomorrow\u2019s Joy It\u2019s true, these […]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/","og_site_name":"Jewish Holidays","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OrthodoxUnion","article_published_time":"2019-07-19T12:07:33+00:00","article_modified_time":"2019-07-22T13:07:03+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":853,"url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/mountaineer-3502001_1280.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Rabbi Reuven Sasson","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rabbi Reuven Sasson","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/","name":"In the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks - Jewish Holidays","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/mountaineer-3502001_1280.jpg","datePublished":"2019-07-19T12:07:33+00:00","dateModified":"2019-07-22T13:07:03+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/68a3942a5688aeda503509e3c24f103a"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/mountaineer-3502001_1280.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/mountaineer-3502001_1280.jpg","width":1280,"height":853},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/in-the-narrows-avodat-hashem-in-the-three-weeks\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"In the Narrows: Avodat Hashem in the Three Weeks"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/","name":"Jewish Holidays","description":"Learn about Jewish holidays","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/68a3942a5688aeda503509e3c24f103a","name":"Rabbi Reuven Sasson","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Rabbi Reuven Sasson"},"description":"Rabbi Sasson studied in yeshivot Mitzpeh Yericho and Beit El and is a student of the late Chief Rabbi R. Mordechai Eliyahu zt\u2019l, R. Shabtai Sabato (Rosh Yeshiva Mitzpeh Yericho) and Rav Nachum Rechel. He also studied pnimiut ha\u2019Torah under Rav Shalom Ullman zt\u2019l, author of Daas Elohim. Rabbi Sasson taught gemora and emunah in yeshivat Ramat Gan and elsewhere for twenty years. In 2008, he established the yeshiva in Ramat HaSharon where he teaches gemora, halacha, Tanach and emunah. His in-depth shiurim on the melachos of Shabbos were recently published under the title Talelei Orah and received warm haskamos from a number of Gedolei Yisrael. Additionally, Rabbi Sasson delivers weekly shiurim in pnimiut ha\u2019Torah that are attended by rabbis from across the country. Rabbi Sasson has authored over thirty sforim on a wide range of topics including two multi volume series, Talelei Chayim and B\u2019ohr Panecha as well as works on the writings of Rav Kook. His works have gained a wide readership in Israel. Their hallmark of his writing is the communication of deep concepts in an accessible language. His sforim have received approbations from Gedolei Yisroel including Rav Avraham Shapira zt\u2019l, Rav Shirya Dblitzky zt\u2019l, former Rishon L\u2019tzion R. Shlomo Amar ,Rav Meir Mazuz, Rav Mordechai Auerbach, Rav Gedalia Zimbalist, Rav yacov Ariel, and Rav Mordechai Atia. Rav Sassons\u2019 kehilla is devoted to building bridges of love and achdus between religious and secular sectors of Ramat Hasharon. His efforts to spread Torah via the yeshiva, the Institute and all of its projects are the outgrowth of a prayer and a desire to bring the unique Torah of this generation, the generation that is witness to the progressive return of the Shechina to Zion, to all Am Yisroel.","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/author\/rabbi-reuven-sasson-2\/"}]}},"acf":[],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/133740"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47656"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47657,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47656\/revisions\/47657"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}