 Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, allude to this in Tractate Yuma 9b: Why was the First Temple destroyed? Because of the following three things that occurred there - idol worship,
immorality, and murder. Yet in the period of the Second Temple, they were involved in Torah study, and Mitzvos and acts of Kindness - so why was it destroyed? As a result of the baseless hatred that was there. Rav Yochanan and Rav Eliezer both said, “Since concerning the First Temple, their transgressions were revealed - their time of redemption was revealed. In the Second Temple, where their sins were not revealed - their time of redemption was not revealed."
The concept that the sins of the First Temple period were revealed, means that the transgressions were severe and apparent to the eye of the observer. Whereas, in the period of the Second Temple, these transgressions could only be detected by exacting contemplation of their immense severity, and of their ceaseless branching out into more and more transgressions in every aspect of our lives.
The passage in Tractate Yuma 9b continues: The Rabbis asked which was better - the First or Second Temple period? They answered: Look with your own eyes - the First Temple was restored after seventy years; whereas the Second Temple has not yet been rebuilt. This is an application of the principle we mentioned above: The greater the person, the greater the evil inclination. Thus, during the Second Temple period, when they were involved in Torah study, Mitzvos, and acts of Kindness - their evil inclination was enormous. It caused them to fall into potent transgressions. The awful evil of these sins is known to those who contemplate the truth.
Now, in every situation in which a man finds himself - what is he to do? The day of death is hidden from everybody. It comes suddenly, and the A-mighty evaluates every act that the individual has done, as it was recorded in the Ledger. G-d evaluates the days of one's life, not one day is missing. More bitter than death will be his end, with no refuge and no escape. As it says in Ecclesiastes 9:4, He who remains connected to any life at all, has hope - for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For, as long as a man is alive, he has security and hope that he may direct his heart to Repentance; but, when he dies, his hope is lost.
This being so, as long as our souls remain within us, we should quickly correct our course to the good. Yet, there is a great obstacle which blocks our path: We do not fear the day of death, even if we mention it with our own mouths. This is stated in Tractate Shabbos 31b, Perhaps you will say death has been forgotten? Also, if we see with our eyes the death of people like ourselves, it does not motivate our soul to repent with our full heart to our Creator. Yet, ultimately, we will come before Him for Judgment, and he will rebuke us, for all the evil we have committed. This most common reaction is just the opposite of what it says in Ecclesiastes, 7:2, It is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of feasting - for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to their hearts. Our numbness is due to the multitude of sins that have dulled our hearts – they have become as hard as a stone.
Thus, as it is stated in Tractate Yuma 39a: “ Do not defile yourselves with them or become defiled through them.. “ (Leviticus 11:43). Do not follow the primary meaning of defiled, rather follow the secondary meaning – dulled. Therefore our transgressions are hidden from us and we do not readily recognize them. As is stated in Tractate Kiddushln 40a: When a person transgresses and repeats the transgression - it becomes as if it were permitted to him - and these sins will surround him on the day of Judgment. Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, mention this in Tractate Avoda Zara 18a: The sins that a person casts under his heels - surround him on the day of Judgment. Alas! Have we lost our hope, G-d forbid? Is there no remedy for us, Heaven forbid?
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Subscribe
