SHABBOS CHAZON, Shabbos of Seeing: a new way of "VIEWING" others; Understanding the sin of Dor Hamidbar and Dor Churban Bayis Sheini Devarim/Shabbas Chazon/TishaBav 5778

ByChana Franck

Moshe's Tradgedy

דברים א׳:א׳

(א) אֵ֣לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּעֵ֖בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן בַּמִּדְבָּ֡ר בָּֽעֲרָבָה֩ מ֨וֹל ס֜וּף בֵּֽין־פָּארָ֧ן וּבֵֽין־תֹּ֛פֶל וְלָבָ֥ן וַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת וְדִ֥י זָהָֽב׃

Deuteronomy 1:1

(1) These are the words that Moses addressed to all Israel on the other side of the Jordan.—Through the wilderness, in the Arabah near Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab,

דברים א׳:ט׳-י״ב

(ט) וָאֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵכֶ֔ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹא־אוּכַ֥ל לְבַדִּ֖י שְׂאֵ֥ת אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (י) יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם הִרְבָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְהִנְּכֶ֣ם הַיּ֔וֹם כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לָרֹֽב׃ (יא) יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֽוֹתֵכֶ֗ם יֹסֵ֧ף עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם כָּכֶ֖ם אֶ֣לֶף פְּעָמִ֑ים וִיבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶתְכֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר לָכֶֽם׃ (יב) אֵיכָ֥ה אֶשָּׂ֖א לְבַדִּ֑י טָרְחֲכֶ֥ם וּמַֽשַּׂאֲכֶ֖ם וְרִֽיבְכֶֽם׃

Deuteronomy 1:9-12

(9) Thereupon I said to you, “I cannot bear the burden of you by myself. (10) The LORD your God has multiplied you until you are today as numerous as the stars in the sky.— (11) May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase your numbers a thousandfold, and bless you as He promised you.— (12) How can I bear unaided the trouble of you, and the burden, and the bickering!

First Eichah?

בראשית ג׳:ט׳

(ט) וַיִּקְרָ֛א יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ אַיֶּֽכָּה׃

Genesis 3:9

(9) The LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

איכה רבה, פתיחתא ד׳

(ד) רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ פָּתַח (הושע ו, ז): וְהֵמָה כְּאָדָם עָבְרוּ בְרִית, זֶה אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן הִכְנַסְתִּי אוֹתוֹ לְגַן עֵדֶן וְצִוִּיתִיו וְעָבַר עַל צִוּוּיִי, וְדַנְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּגֵרוּשִׁין וּבְשִׁלּוּחִין, וְקוֹנַנְתִּי עָלָיו אֵיכָה. הִכְנַסְתִּי אוֹתוֹ לְגַן עֵדֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, טו): וַיִּקַּח ה' אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן עֵדֶן, וְצִוִּיתִיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, טז): וַיְצַו ה' אֱלֹהִים עַל הָאָדָם לֵאמֹר וגו'. וְעָבַר עַל צִוּוּיִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, יא): הֲמִן הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ וגו', וְדַנְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּגֵרוּשִׁין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, כד): וַיְגָרֶשׁ אֶת הָאָדָם, וְדַנְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּשִׁלּוּחִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, כג): וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ ה' מִגַּן עֵדֶן, וְקוֹנַנְתִּי עָלָיו אֵיכָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, ט): וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַיֶכָּה, אֵיכָה כְּתִיב. אַף בָּנָיו הִכְנַסְתִּי אוֹתָם לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ב, ז): וָאָבִיא אֶתְכֶם אֶל אֶרֶץ הַכַּרְמֶל, וְצִוִּיתִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כד, ב): צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְעָבְרוּ עַל צִוּוּיִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל ט, יא): וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עָבְרוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתְךָ, וְדַנְתִּי אוֹתָם בְּגֵירוּשִׁין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע ט, טו): מִבֵּיתִי אֲגָרְשֵׁם, וְדַנְתִּי אוֹתָם בְּשִׁלּוּחִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה טו, א): שַׁלַּח מֵעַל פָּנַי וְיֵצֵאוּ, וְקוֹנַנְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם אֵיכָה יָשְׁבָה בָדָד.

Eikhah Rabbah, Petichta 4

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איכה א׳:א׳

(א) אֵיכָ֣ה ׀ יָשְׁבָ֣ה בָדָ֗ד הָעִיר֙ רַבָּ֣תִי עָ֔ם הָיְתָ֖ה כְּאַלְמָנָ֑ה רַּבָּ֣תִי בַגּוֹיִ֗ם שָׂרָ֙תִי֙ בַּמְּדִינ֔וֹת הָיְתָ֖ה לָמַֽס׃ (ס)

Lamentations 1:1

(1) Alas! Lonely sits the city Once great with people! She that was great among nations Is become like a widow; The princess among states has become a captive.

First Tisha B'av

תענית כ״ט א

בתשעה באב נגזר על אבותינו שלא יכנסו לארץ .. וכתיב (במדבר יד, א) ותשא כל העדה ויתנו את קולם ויבכו העם בלילה ההוא אמר רבה אמר ר' יוחנן (אותו היום ערב) תשעה באב היה אמר להם הקב"ה אתם בכיתם בכיה של חנם ואני קובע לכם בכיה לדורות

Taanit 29a

You want to destroy the Temple; I have given you your hand. It is as though one idol said to the other: You are seeking to destroy the Temple by causing Israel to pray to you; I, too, give you a hand to assist you. § The mishna taught: On the Ninth of Av, it was decreed upon our ancestors that they would not enter Eretz Yisrael. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this? As it is written: “And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the Tabernacle was erected” (Exodus 40:17). And the Master said: In the first year after leaving Egypt, Moses built the Tabernacle. At the beginning of the second year, Moses erected the Tabernacle and sent the spies. And it is written: “And it came to pass in the second year in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from the Tabernacle of the Testimony” (Numbers 10:11). And it is further written: “And they set forward from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey” (Numbers 10:33). Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: That very day, they turned away from God by displaying their anxiety about leaving Mount Sinai. And it is written: “And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting, and the children of Israel also wept on their part, and said: Would that we were given flesh to eat” (Numbers 11:4). And it is written that the Jews ate the meat “for an entire month” (Numbers 11:20). If one adds to the first twenty days an additional three days’ journey, these are twenty-three days. Consequently, the subsequent month of twenty-nine days of eating meat ended on the twenty-second of Sivan. After this, the Jews traveled to Hazeroth, where Miriam was afflicted with leprosy, and it is written: “And Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey until Miriam was brought in again” (Numbers 12:15). Including these seven days, they remained in Hazeroth until the twenty-ninth of Sivan before traveling on to Paran, and it is written immediately afterward: “Send you men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan” (Numbers 13:2). And this calculation is taught in a baraita: On the twenty-ninth of Sivan, Moses sent the spies. And it is written: “And they returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days” (Numbers 13:25), which means that they came back on the Ninth of Av. The Gemara asks: These are forty days minus one. The remaining days of the days of Sivan, the entire month of Tammuz, and eight days of Av add up to a total of thirty-nine days, not forty. Abaye said: The month of Tammuz of that year was a full month of thirty days. Accordingly, there are exactly forty days until the Ninth of Av. And this is alluded to in the following verse, as it is written: “He has called an appointed time against me to crush my young men” (Lamentations 1:15). This indicates that an additional appointed day, i.e., a New Moon, was added so that this calamity would fall specifically on the Ninth of Av. And it is further written: “And all the congregation lifted up their voice and cried and the people wept that night” (Numbers 14:1). Rabba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: That night was the night of the Ninth of Av. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: You wept needlessly that night, and I will therefore establish for you a true tragedy over which there will be weeping in future generations. § The mishna further taught that on the Ninth of Av the Temple was destroyed the first time. The Gemara explains that this is as it is written: “And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the King of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burnt the house of the Lord” (II Kings 25:8–9). And it is also written: “And in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came into Jerusalem. And he burnt the house of the Lord” (Jeremiah 52:12–13). And it is taught in a baraita: It is impossible to say that the Temple was burned on the seventh of Av, as it has already been stated, in Jeremiah, that it was destroyed on the tenth. And it is also impossible to say that the Temple was burned on the tenth of Av, as it has already been stated that it was destroyed on the seventh, in II Kings 25:8–9. How so; what actually occurred? On the seventh of Av, gentiles entered the Sanctuary, and on the seventh and the eighth they ate there and desecrated it, by engaging in acts of fornication. And on the ninth, adjacent to nightfall, they set fire to it, and it continuously burned the entire day, as it is stated: “Woe unto us, for the day has declined, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out” (Jeremiah 4:6). This verse is interpreted as a prophecy about the evening when the Temple was burned. And this is what Rabbi Yoḥanan meant when he said: Had I been alive in that generation, I would have established the fast only on the tenth of Av because most of the Sanctuary was burned on that day. And the Sages, who established the fast on the ninth, how do they respond to that comment? They maintain that it is preferable to mark the beginning of the tragedy. And the mishna further taught that the Temple was destroyed for the second time also on the Ninth of Av. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that the Second Temple was destroyed on this date? It is taught in a baraita: A meritorious matter is brought about on an auspicious day, and a deleterious matter on an inauspicious day, e.g., the Ninth of Av, on which several tragedies had already occurred. The Sages said: When the Temple was destroyed for the first time, that day was the Ninth of Av; and it was the conclusion of Shabbat; and it was the year after a Sabbatical Year; and it was the week of the priestly watch of Jehoiarib; and the Levites were singing the song and standing on their platform. And what song were they singing? They were singing the verse: “And He brought upon them their own iniquity, and He will cut them off in their own evil” (Psalms 94:23). And they did not manage to recite the end of the verse: “The Lord our God will cut them off,” before gentiles came and conquered them. And likewise, the same happened when the Second Temple was destroyed. The mishna teaches that Beitar was captured on the Ninth of Av. The Gemara explains that this is known by tradition. § The mishna taught that on the Ninth of Av the city of Jerusalem was plowed. It is taught in a baraita: When the wicked Turnus Rufus plowed the Sanctuary, a decree was issued against Rabban Gamliel for execution. A certain Roman officer came and stood in the study hall and said surreptitiously: The man with the nose is wanted; the man with the nose is wanted. This was a hint that Rabban Gamliel, who stood out in his generation like a nose protruding from a face, was sought by the government. Rabban Gamliel heard and went into hiding. The Roman officer went to him in private, and said to him: If I save you from death, will you bring me into the World-to-Come? Rabban Gamliel said to him: Yes. The officer said to Rabban Gamliel: Swear to me. He swore to him. The officer ascended to the roof, fell, and died. And the Romans had a tradition that when they issued a decree and one of their advisors died, they would cancel the decree. The officer’s sacrifice saved Rabban Gamliel’s life. A Divine Voice emerged and said: That officer is designated for the life of the World-to-Come. The Sages taught: When the Temple was destroyed for the first time, many groups of young priests gathered together with the Temple keys in their hands. And they ascended to the roof of the Sanctuary and said before God: Master of the Universe, since we did not merit to be faithful treasurers, and the Temple is being destroyed, let the Temple keys be handed to You. And they threw them upward, and a kind of palm of a hand emerged and received the keys from them. And the young priests jumped from the roof and fell into the fire of the burning Temple. And the prophet Isaiah lamented over them: “The burden of the Valley of Vision. What ails you now that you have all gone up to the roofs? You that were full of uproar, a tumultuous city, a joyous town, your slain are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle” (Isaiah 22:1–2). This is referring to the young priests who died by throwing themselves off the roof into the fire. And even with regard to the Holy One, Blessed be He, it is stated: “For it is a day of trouble, and of trampling, and of confusion for the Lord of hosts, in the Valley of Vision; a shouting over walls and a cry to the mountain” (Isaiah 22:5). This verse indicates that even God shouts over the destruction of the Temple. § The mishna teaches that from when the month of Av begins, one decreases acts of rejoicing. Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, said in the name of Rav: Just as when Av begins one decreases rejoicing, so too when the month of Adar begins, one increases rejoicing.

דברים א׳:כ״ז

(כז) וַתֵּרָגְנ֤וּ בְאָהֳלֵיכֶם֙ וַתֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ בְּשִׂנְאַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֹתָ֔נוּ הוֹצִיאָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם לָתֵ֥ת אֹתָ֛נוּ בְּיַ֥ד הָאֱמֹרִ֖י לְהַשְׁמִידֵֽנוּ׃

Deuteronomy 1:27

(27) You sulked in your tents and said, “It is because the LORD hates us that He brought us out of the land of Egypt, to hand us over to the Amorites to wipe us out.

רש"י על דברים א׳:כ״ז:ב׳

בשנאת ה' אתנו. וְהוּא הָיָה אוֹהֵב אֶתְכֶם, אֲבָל אַתֶּם שׂוֹנְאִים אוֹתוֹ; מְשַׁל הֶדְיוֹט אוֹמֵר מַה דִּבְלִבָּךְ עַל רְחִמָּךְ מַה דִּבְלִבֵּהּ עֲלָךְ (ספרי):

Rashi on Deuteronomy 1:27:2

Really, however, He loved you, but you hated Him. A common proverb says: What is in your own mind about your friend, you imagine is what is in his mind about you (Sifri)

Specifics of Sinas Chinam

כלי יקר על דברים א׳:א׳:ז׳

ובט"ב היה מעשה המרגלים בו ביום נולדה מדת שנאת חנם בישראל כמ"ש (דברים א כז) ותאמרו בשנאת ה' אותנו הוציאנו וגו' פירש"י מה דבלבך על רחמך מה דבלביה עליך. (ילקו"ש דברים תתה) כי המה סברו מאחר שכל אחד מהם שונא את חבירו כך מסתמא שונא אותם גם הקב"ה, ועוד מאחר שטעו לומר שהקב"ה שונא אותם בחנם א"כ ודאי טבע הענין מחייב זה שכל אחד ישנא את חבירו, ותהר צרה זו ותלד מדה רעה זו אשר החריבה בית ראשון ושני, כי בבית ראשון היה שנאת חנם בין נשיאי ישראל, ובבית שני פשתה הנגע בין כל ישראל כדאיתא ביומא (ט:)

Kli Yakar on Deuteronomy 1:1:7

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יומא ט׳ ב:ג׳-י״א

מפני מה חרב מפני ג' דברים שהיו בו ע"ז וגלוי עריות ושפיכות דמים ע"ז ....אבל מקדש שני שהיו עוסקין בתורה ובמצות וגמילות חסדים ,מפני מה חרב מפני שהיתה בו שנאת חנם ללמדך ששקולה שנאת חנם כנגד שלש עבירות ע"ז גלוי עריות ושפיכות דמים ... ובמקדש ראשון לא הוה ביה שנאת חנם ... בני אדם שאוכלין ושותין זה עם זה, ודוקרין זה את זה, בחרבות שבלשונם ההיא בנשיאי ישראל

Yoma 9b:3-11

Due to what reason was the First Temple destroyed? It was destroyed due to 3 aveiras: Idol worship, forbidden relations, and bloodshed... However, considering that the people during the Second Temple period were engaged in Torah study, observance of mitzvot, and acts of kindness, and that they did not perform the sinful acts that were performed in the First Temple, why was the Second Temple destroyed? It was destroyed due to the fact that there was wanton hatred during that period. This comes to teach you that the sin of wanton hatred is equivalent to the three severe transgressions: Idol worship, forbidden relations and bloodshed....

In the First Temple era was there really no baseless hatred?...People used to sit and eat together and then spear one another with the swords of the tongue...It was only the leaders of the nation who harbored baseless hatred for each other.

העמק דבר על בראשית, פתיחה לספר בראשית א׳

(א) זה הספר הנקרא ספר בראשית. נקרא בפי הנביאים ספר הישר ..... זה ספר אברהם יצחק ויעקב שנקראו ישרים...... דשבח ישר הוא נאמר להצדיק דין הקב״ה בחרבן בית שני שהיה דור עקש ופתלתל. ופירשנו שהיו צדיקים וחסידים ועמלי תורה. אך לא היו ישרים בהליכות עולמים. ע״כ מפני שנאת חנם שבלבם זא״ז חשדו את מי שראו שנוהג שלא כדעתם ביראת ה׳ שהוא צדוקי ואפיקורס. ובאו עי״ז לידי ש״ד בדרך הפלגה ולכל הרעות שבעולם עד שחרב הבית. וע״ז היה צדוק הדין. שהקב״ה ישר הוא ואינו סובל צדיקים כאלו, אלא באופן שהולכים בדרך הישר גם בהליכות עולם ולא בעקמימות אע״ג שהוא לש״ש דזה גורם חרבן הבריאה והריסות ישוב הארץ. וזה היה שבח האבות שמלבד שהיו צדיקים וחסידים ואוהבי ה׳ באופן היותר אפשר. עוד היו ישרים. היינו שהתנהגו עם אוה״ע אפי׳ עובדי אלילים מכוערים. מ״מ היו עמם באהבה וחשו לטובתם באשר היא קיום הבריאה. כמו שאנו רואים כמה השתטח א״א להתפלל על סדום. אע״ג שהיה שנא אותם ואת מלכם תכלית שנאה עבור רשעתם כמבואר במאמרו למלך סדום. מ״מ חפץ בקיומם.

Haamek Davar on Genesis, Introduction to Genesis 1

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ויקרא י״א:י״ט

(יט) וְאֵת֙ הַחֲסִידָ֔ה הָאֲנָפָ֖ה לְמִינָ֑הּ וְאֶת־הַדּוּכִיפַ֖ת וְאֶת־הָעֲטַלֵּֽף׃

Leviticus 11:19

(19) the stork; herons of every variety; the hoopoe, and the bat.

רש"י על ויקרא י״א:י״ט:א׳

(א) החסידה. זוֹ דַיָּה לְבָנָה, ציגוני"א, וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ חֲסִידָה? שֶׁעוֹשָֹׁה חֲסִידוּת עִם חַבְרוֹתֶיהָ בִּמְזוֹנוֹת (שם):

Rashi on Leviticus 11:19:1

(1) החסידה — This is the white stork, cigogne in old French And why is it called חסידה? Because it deals kindly (חסד) with its fellows in respect to food (Chullin 63b).

FASTING: ARE WE MOURNING OR REPENTING?

משנה תורה, הלכות תעניות א׳:א׳-ד׳

(א) מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לִזְעֹק וּלְהָרִיעַ בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת עַל כָּל צָרָה שֶׁתָּבוֹא עַל הַצִּבּוּר. .....

(ב) וְדָבָר זֶה מִדַּרְכֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה הוּא. שֶׁבִּזְמַן שֶׁתָּבוֹא צָרָה וְיִזְעֲקוּ עָלֶיהָ וְיָרִיעוּ יֵדְעוּ הַכּל שֶׁבִּגְלַל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם הָרָעִים הוּרַע לָהֶן ....

(ג) אֲבָל אִם לֹא יִזְעֲקוּ וְלֹא יָרִיעוּ אֶלָּא יֹאמְרוּ דָּבָר זֶה מִמִּנְהַג הָעוֹלָם אֵרַע לָנוּ וְצָרָה זוֹ נִקְרָה נִקְרֵית. הֲרֵי זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ אַכְזָרִיּוּת וְגוֹרֶמֶת לָהֶם לְהִדַּבֵּק בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם הָרָעִים. וְתוֹסִיף הַצָּרָה צָרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת...

(ד) וּמִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים לְהִתְעַנּוֹת עַל כָּל צָרָה שֶׁתָּבוֹא עַל הַצִּבּוּר עַד שֶׁיְּרֻחֲמוּ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם. וּבִימֵי הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת הָאֵלּוּ זוֹעֲקִין בִּתְפִלּוֹת

Mishneh Torah, Fasts 1:1-4

(1) It is a positive commandment from the Torah to cry out and to sound trumpets for all troubles that come upon the community, as it is said, "upon an enemy who attacks you and you sound trumpets (Numbers 10:9)." That is to say, every matter that troubles you like famine, plague, locusts, and so forth, cry out because of them and sound the trumpets.

(3) But if they do not cry out and sound trumpets, but rather say: "What has happed is the way of the world, is merely happenstance". This is a cruel way, and it causes them to stick to their bad deeeds. And the trouble will add other troubles. About this it is written in the Torah (Not an exact quote, seems to be referring to Leviticus 26, 27-28): "but walk contrary unto Me then I will walk contrary unto you in fury". That is, when I will bring upon you troubles, if you will say that it is happenstance I will increase the fury of this tear.

משנה תורה, הלכות תעניות ה׳:א׳

(א) יֵשׁ שָׁם יָמִים שֶׁכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְעַנִּים בָּהֶם מִפְּנֵי הַצָּרוֹת שֶׁאֵרְעוּ בָּהֶן כְּדֵי לְעוֹרֵר הַלְּבָבוֹת לִפְתֹּחַ דַּרְכֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה וְיִהְיֶה זֶה זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂינוּ הָרָעִים וּמַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁהָיָה כְּמַעֲשֵׂינוּ עַתָּה עַד שֶׁגָּרַם לָהֶם וְלָנוּ אוֹתָן הַצָּרוֹת.

Mishneh Torah, Fasts 5:1

(1) There are days that all the people of Israel observe as fasts on account of the tragic events which occurred on them, the purpose being to appeal to the hearts and to lay open the paths of repentance. This serves as a reminder of our evil doings, and the deeds of our fathers which were like ours now, resulting in the afflictions endured by them and by us. By remembering these things we are likely to repent and do right, as it is written: "They shall confess their sins and the sins of their fathers…" (Leviticus 26:40).

יומא,א.א

כל דור שאינו נבנה בימיו, מעלין עליו כאילו הוא החריבו

But how do we rectify it????

משנה אבות א׳:י״ב

(יב) הִלֵּל וְשַׁמַּאי קִבְּלוּ מֵהֶם. הִלֵּל אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, אוֹהֵב שָׁלוֹם וְרוֹדֵף שָׁלוֹם, אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת וּמְקָרְבָן לַתּוֹרָה:

Pirkei Avot 1:12

(12) Hillel and Shammai received from them. Hillel says, "Be of the disciples of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving the creatures and bringing them closer to Torah."

תהילים ל״ד:י״ג-ט״ו

מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃ (יד) נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃ (טו) ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃

Psalms 34:13-15

. (13) Who is the man who is eager for life, who desires years of good fortune? (14) Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech. (15) Shun evil and do good, seek amity and pursue it

and even more specifically.....

משנה אבות ה׳:י״ט

(יט) כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדוֹ שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. וּשְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים אֲחֵרִים, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע. עַיִן טוֹבָה, וְרוּחַ נְמוּכָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ שְׁפָלָה, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. עַיִן רָעָה, וְרוּחַ גְּבוֹהָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ רְחָבָה, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע.

Pirkei Avot 5:19

(19) Anyone who has these three things is from the students of Abraham, our father, and [anyone who has] three other things is from the students of Bilaam the evildoer: [one who has] a good eye, a humble spirit and a small appetite -- is from the students of Abraham, our father. [One who has] an evil eye, a haughty spirit and a broad appetite - is from the students of Bilaam the evildoer.

בראשית א׳:ל״א

(לא) וַיַּ֤רְא אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְהִנֵּה־ט֖וֹב מְאֹ֑ד וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי׃ (פ)

Genesis 1:31

(31) And God saw all that He had made, and found it very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

1) בני יששכר - מאמרי חודש תמוז-אב, מאמר עפ"י קבלת האריז"ל אשר כל החדשים הם בחינת איברי הראש ,והנה ב' החדשים הללו הם בחינת עין ימין (תמוז) ובחינת עין שמאל (אב)

רבי אלימלך מליז'נסק

אַדְּרַבָּא,
תֵּן בְּלִבֵּנוּ שֶׁנִּרְאֶה כָּל אֶחָד מַעֲלַת חֲבֵרֵינוּ
וְלא חֶסְרוֹנָם,
וְשֶׁנְּדַבֵּר כָּל אֶחָד אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ
בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר וְהָרָצוּי לְפָנֶיךָ,
וְאַל יַעֲלֶה שׁוּם שִׂנְאָה
מֵאֶחָד עַל חֲבֵרוֹ חָלִילָה.
וּתְחַזֵּק הִתְקַשְּׁרוּתֵנוּ בְּאַהֲבָה אֵלֶיךָ,
כַּאֲשֶׁר גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ.
שֶׁיְּהֵא הַכּל נַחַת רוּחַ אֵלֶיךָ
אָמֵן, כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן.

On the contrary, place in our hearts the ability to see only the good in our friends and not their shortcomings!
May we speak to each other in a way that is straight and desirable in Your eyes. May there be no hatred between friends, Heaven forbid.
Strengthen our ties and our bond to You with love, as it is revealed and known to You that we strive to give You only satisfaction and pleasure.
Amen, may it be your will!

ישעיהו נ״ב:ח׳

(ח) ק֥וֹל צֹפַ֛יִךְ נָ֥שְׂאוּ ק֖וֹל יַחְדָּ֣ו יְרַנֵּ֑נוּ כִּ֣י עַ֤יִן בְּעַ֙יִן֙ יִרְא֔וּ בְּשׁ֥וּב יְהוָ֖ה צִיּֽוֹן׃

Isaiah 52:8

(8) Hark! Your watchmen raise their voices, As one they shout for joy; For every eye shall behold The LORD’s return to Zion.

Heightened perception is the goal: becoming more aware of how you see, not just what you see.

Michael Kimmelman