Inspirational Moment

We request in our daily prayers that Hashem should rebuild Yerushalayim and the Bais HaMikdash quickly in our days.

There is a difference of opinion among the sages concerning the construction of the third Bais HaMikdash.

The Rambam states in Mishneh Torah (Hilchos Melochim 11:1,4)

We request in our daily prayers that Hashem should rebuild Yerushalayim and the Bais HaMikdash quickly in our days.

There is a difference of opinion among the sages concerning the construction of the third Bais HaMikdash.

The Rambam states in Mishneh Torah (Hilchos Melochim 11:1,4) that the Bais HaMikdash will be built by man. In fact, he states, it will be built by Moshiach. Thus it is understood that one of the indications of Moshiach’s arrival will be the construction of the Bais HaMikdash.

Rashi, in Mesechta Succah 41a and Rosh Hashanah 30a, presents the view that Hashem has in fact already built the Bais HaMikdash and it exists in the Heavenly spheres. When the appropriate moment arrives, the Bais HaMikdash will descend and become part of our world.

Our chachamim tell us that in the era of R’ Yehoshua ben Chananya, the Romans actually granted the Jews permission to rebuild the Bais HaMikdash and the people rushed to begin the preparations. However, the project never got off the ground because of the Samaritans’ intervention; in other words, it was not yet the fitting time for the Bais HaMikdash.

We find an interesting discussion in the Gemara (Brachos 6:2) in which R’ Nachman bar Yitzchok states, citing the pasuk in Yirmiyah (33:11), that bringing about joy for a chosson and kallah is comparable to rebuilding the ruins of Yerushalayim,

An interesting question arises: What is the connection between a chosson and kallah and the ruins of Yerushalayim?

Rashi tells us in Parshas Vayigash (46) that when Binyomin and Yosef met

they fell on each other’s neck and cried. It is explained that they were weeping over the two Botei Mikdash that would be destroyed in the future.

It seems strange that at a moment of such deep emotion, when the beloved brothers met after twenty-two years of separation, they were crying about what would happen many years in the future.

The Medrash tells us that their crying over the destruction of the Botei Mikdash was very apt. We know that the churban Bais HaMikdash was brought about because of the sinas chinam, baseless hatred, that existed among Bnai Yisroel. The brothers realized that all the yesurim their family had experienced over the last twenty-two years had also been caused by sinas chinam -- the brothers’ baseless hatred towards Yosef.

Conversely, a person who brings joy to a chosson and kallah – an act of true ahavas Yisroel – is rectifying the sinas chinam which resulted in the devastation of Yerushalayim and the Bais HaMikdash. He is thereby credited with the merit of participating in the rebuilding of the ruins of the Bais HaMikdash.

In the year 1962, the bachurim of Slobodka made a siyum and they begged HaGaon Rav Yechezkel Abramsky to address the gathering.

With reference to this special occasion, R’ Yechezkel quoted the gemara at the end of the tractate Yevamos which states: R’ Elozor said in the name of R’ Chanina, Torah scholars increase the peace in the world, as it says in Yeshayahu 54:13, ‘And all your children will be students of Hashem and there will be abundant peace for your children.’

R’ Yechezkel clarified that this does not mean that the Torah scholar is going to walk from house to house to determine whether there are any extant problems in sholom bayis so that he could then reconcile the parties.

Actually, he explained, this was referring to an inner peace experienced by those who are students of Hashem. The peace of the Torah scholar is acquired from spiritual fulfillment. The talmid chacham is a man of peace, because he derives pleasure from his study of Torah and is sated with content from his performance of mitzvos. In contrast, the discontented person is always angry at someone, he harbors grudges, and is filled with contempt for others.

The talmid chacham acquires more gratification from his learning and mitzvos than he would from a million-dollar windfall. Therefore, his personal conduct and his presence among Klal Yisroel creates peace in the world by example and influence. His mild and conciliatory temperament, which does not make demands of others, creates a peaceful setting in the world.