Episode Details

Hashem offers us a consolation deeper than the assurance that we will be redeemed.

By Rabbi Mendel Kessin
Synopsis is not necesarrily in Rabbi Kessin's own words

The Jews ask why

• The medrash says that at the end of time the Jews will ask Hashem why they had to go through the tremendous suffering, persecutions and desolation of galus.
• Hashem will send the Avos and various leaders of the Jews to console them, but they will not be successful
• Hahem then consols them Himself with Nachamu Nachamu Ami.

Questions

• What did Hashem do that the others couldn’t?
• Why does Hashem use a repetitive language?
• The pasuk that mentions this response of Hashem uses the divine name Elokim, which refers to Hashem’s acting towards us with justice. Wouldn’t the Name of Mercy be more appropriate?

The tannaim mourn the majesty of Roman society, and Rabbi Akiva’s response

• 4 tannaim were walking through Roman society. They heard loud voices from the Roman palace many miles away (this means they viewed the success and majesty of Roman society).
• 3 of them started crying
• They were distraught at the Tiferes (reference to wisdom) and Oz (reference to success) caused by the nitzotzos hackedusha that was transfered from Jews to Satan and the nations connected to him.
• Rabbi Akiva laughed
• The others asked why he was laughing
• He asked tham why they were crying
• They answered that the Romans are sitting at peace and our temple is burned. Why shouldn’t we cry?
• He answered that's why I'm laughing. If this is how Hashem behaves toward those who defy him, how much more so for those who serve him.
• Rabbi Akiva was saying - if Hashem rewards them in this way for whatever zechusim they did have, this demonstrates middah of Hashem that one gets what he deserves even if one is evil.
• Rabbi Akiva looked at what the Romans had and its implications for us as opposed to what we had lost

The tannaim mourn the desolation of the Bais Hamikdash, and Rabbi Akiva’s response

• These 4 tannaim were then waking on Har Tzofim - the mountain that overlooks the Har Habayis
• They all rent their garments in mourning
• When they came near the place where the Kodesh Kodoshim was, they saw a fox leave that place.
• 3 of them started crying
• Rabbi Akiva laughed
• The others asked why he was laughing
• He asked tham why they were crying
• They said that when the Bais Hamildosh stood, if someone entered the Kodesh Kodoshim when he was unworthy or unauthorized, he would die immediately. Yet now a fox can go there and remain unharmed.
• Rabbi Akiva responded that that was precisely why he was laughing.
• Rabbi Akiva then referred to verses in the Navi that imply that the nevuah of redemption is dependant on the nevuah of destruction.
• The others replied: Akiva you have consoled us. Akiva you have consoled us.

Questions

• Why did we need to know the type of animal it was?
• Why did Rabbi Akiva ask why they’re crying? Isn’t it obvious that it’s because of the destruction?