By Daniel Keren, Matzav.com
Rav Moshe Weinberger, rov of the Agudath Israel of Flatbush, spoke at the recent Independence Day legal holiday Yarchei Kallah sponsored by Hakhel at the Agudath Israel of Madison (Zichron Chaim Tzvi) in Brooklyn on the topic of “Dreaming of the Bais Hamikdosh.” Hakhel is a Flatbush-based organization dedicated to promoting a greater awareness of Torah-true values in our community.
Rabbi Weinberger spoke of how difficult it is for us today to appreciate what we are missing since it was so long ago that our holy Sanctuary in Yerushalayim was destroyed. When the Bais Hamikdosh stood, there was clarity among all the Yidden who came three times a year to be oleh haregel, – to make pilgrimages for Pesach, Shavuos and Succos.
Involved in Mundane Activities
Today, without the Bais Hamikdosh, we find ourselves involved all week long in the hasty and time-consuming pursuit of earning a parnassah and other mundane activities that take our mind off of Hashem. All would be lost if not for Shabbos, which Rabbi Weinberger noted is the opportunity for us to realize that the rest of the week is just an illusion.
He quoted Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, zt”l, whose love for Eretz Yisroel was so overpowering and who said that a frum Yid who goes seven days and doesn’t once think of Eretz Yisroel is ra, wicked.
The Ant’s Dramatic Revelation
Rabbi Weinberger told of the time that Rav Mendlowitz was once outdoors with some bochrim at Bais Medrash Elyon in Monsey. He picked up a rock and all of a sudden an ant that had been hidden underneath the rock became visible. Rav Mendlowitz asked the students, “Before I picked up this rock, what did this ant think?
“He probably thought that this rock was the entire world. Now that I have picked up this stone, the ant can see the sky as illuminated by the sun, the trees and the grass – a complete and stunning revelation.”
Our Own Shocking Discovery
And that, Rav Mendlowitz told the bochrim is going to happen to all of us when Hashem brings us the Geulah and restores to us the Bais Hamikdosh. We will realize that all of the dreams and objectives we devoted our strength towards acquiring were just as much a false illusion as the rock that previously covered the ant.
Rabbi Weinberger continued: “This world is an illusion. The Borei Olam, the Creator of the World not only created the world in the Six Days of Creation, but He is continuously creating the world every second thereafter.
Why Moshe Rabbeinu Didn’t Age
Why didn’t Moshe Rabbeinu age? When he died, the Torah teaches us he was just as strong and vital as when 40 years before he led the Bnei Yisroel out of Mitzrayim. Rabbi Weinberger quoted Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zt”l, the Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin as explaining that the aging process of human beings was created by Hashem to give people the free choice to believe the illusion that the world actually exists on its own.
If we truly understood that the world exists only because it is being constantly recreated every second by Hakodesh Baruch Hu, the need for humans to age and grower older and weaker would no longer exist. Because Moshe Rabbeinu so clearly understood this emes about the connection between the world and Hakodesh Baruch Hu, it wasn’t necessary for Hashem to make Moshe grow older and physically weaker during the 40 years he guided the Jews in the Midbar.
Rav Mordechai Gifter’s Insight
Rabbi Weinberger quoted his rebbe, Rav Mordechai Gifter, zt”l, the Rosh Hayeshiva of Telz in Cleveland who said that there is a Torah with the Bais Hamikdosh and there is a Torah without the Bais Hamikdosh. But, we must realize that there is a significant difference. We can only hope to have the ultimate clarity that comes from learning the Torah that is learned when the Bais Hamikdosh is existing and in full spiritual glory.
If we realize that this world in which we currently live without the Bais Hamikdosh is one of illusion and falsity, one can then develop the desire for the true Geulah and the restoration of Hashem’s Sanctuary in Yerushalayim. Rabbi Weinberger noted that today we have three types of miniature sanctuaries – the shul or beis medrash, the Jewish home and our individual existences.
If we really want Hashem to restore the true Bais Hamikdosh, we must each individually work on personally improving how we behave in our shuls, our families and ourselves. And if we all try and make holier these three bais hamikdosh me’ats, we should all be worthy that Hashem will help us to the ultimate redemption and that all our dreams should be for good.
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