From: murray.bbs@cybernet.cse.fau.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: L'Chaim
Date: 13 Aug 92 21:22:19 GMT
Organization: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton

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L'CHAIM                   ISSUE # 227 PART                      2 OF 8
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                           LIVING WITH THE TIMES                  
                         THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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             Our Sages  explain that  on Tisha  B'Av Moshiach  is born.
According to  the Arizal, it  is on  the afternoon of  Tisha B'Av  that
Moshiach is  "born." This does not  refer to his actual  birth, because
Moshiach will not  be an infant when he redeems  our people, but rather
to a  strengthening of his influence. For our Sages refer to a birthday
as a day when mazalo govair, "the spiritual source of one's soul shines
powerfully." On the day when  Moshiach's spiritual source is powerfully
revealed,  there is a unique  potential for the Redemption  to come.   
This year Tisha  B'Av is on Shabbat,  and thus we do not  mourn.  Thus,
Shabbat postpones the negative  factors associated with Tisha B'Av  and
enhances and  amplifies the date's positive  influences. Similarly, the
fact that  Tisha B'Av falls on  Shabbat and that instead  of fasting we
are  obligated  to take  pleasure in  the  foods and  beverages served,
alludes to the Redemption. For every Shabbat is a microcosm of "the era
that  is all Shabbat and rest for eternity" and the Shabbat meals are a
reflection of the feast to be served on that day.     For that  reason,
when a fast day falls on Shabbat there must be an  additional stress on
happiness. This is  reflected in the third Shabbat meal. Although it is
the  seuda hamafseket,  the meal  directly before  the Tisha  B'Av fast
which is usually associated with certain mourning rites, this year, one
may serve "a meal comparable to the feasts of King Shlomo."     Indeed,
in regard  to a Tisha  B'Av which falls  on Shabbat, our Sages  use the
expression, "Since  it was postponed, let it be nullified." On a simple
level, it means that since the fast was not observed on its appropriate
date, there  is reason to suppose that in that  year, one need not fast
at all. On a deeper  level, however, it reflects the potential  for the
fast  to be  nullified completely and  totally with  the coming  of the
redemption.      Among  the unique aspects  of the observance  of Tisha
B'Av this year is that it has a resemblance to Yom Kippur. In regard to
Yom Kippur,  it is  said,  "whoever eats  and drinks  on  the ninth  is
considered as if he  fasted on the ninth and tenth."  Eating "succulent
meat and aged wine" on  the ninth of the month causes G-d  to have this
considered  as a special  merit. This concept  can also be  borrowed in
regard to the ninth and tenth of Av this year, for we eat on  the ninth
of  the  month in  preparation for  the  fast on  the tenth.        The
imminence  of  the  Redemption  mentioned  previously  allows  for  the
possibility for a further connection to be drawn between Tisha B'Av and
Yom Kippur. At the dedication of the First Holy Temple, on the tenth of
Tishrei, on Yom Kippur, the Jews ate and drank in celebration. And this
was  considered  a  unique  merit  for  them.  Since  we  are  awaiting
Moshiach's arrival  every day, it is possible that the tenth of Av will
be  the dedication  of the third  Holy Temple.  For the  Holy Temple is
already  completely built in the spiritual realms and must only descend
to the  earth. Were this to happen, the parallel between Tisha B'Av and
Yom Kippur would be revealed  in the most complete and  positive sense.
Mayit happen this year! Adapted from a talk of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.  
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish