BS’D
Today, 10th of Tevet, is the yahrtzeit of Rebbe Natan ztk’l the chief disciple of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov ztk’l. A well known teaching of the Rebbe was – If your tefillot have not been answered it means you haven’t davened enough or you haven’t davened at all for them. B’H may we particularly today daven for the coming of Mashiach b’mheira, b’rachamim, Amen.
It is worthy to light a candle in the zechut of Rebbe Natan ztk’l that he may advocate on high before the Kisei HaKavod.
The Rambam ztk’l states our actions today liken those of our forefathers. The implication of his words is clear. Because we continue on this course of action, the rebuilding of the Holy Temple is delayed and the security of the Jewish people is in jeopardy. Could there be a more significant idea attending this fast day? If we want to know why the situation for the Jewish people today is the way it is, we need not look any further than our own misguided actions. Anti-Semitism and physical assaults on Jews around the world are on the rise. Hatred for the modern nation of Israel has never been greater. Lies continue to be asserted and spread, Israel is a racist and apartheid state. Even protesters in Ferguson, Illinois carried banners defaming the country of Israel. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign being waged on American college campuses against Israel has only one real goal: the total destruction of Israel.
When the prophets and rabbis issue a decree for all of Israel to fast, it is not a minor pronouncement, something to be taken lightly. Not following their directive involves a serious legal and philosophic breach. The Rambam writes in the Laws of Repentance 3:11, “Someone who separates himself from the practices of the Jewish community even though he has not committed any Torah violation but merely separates from Jews by not joining with them in performing mitzvot or participating with them in their crying out to Hashem or fasting in their time of trouble, rather he just lives as another person in the world. Such a person forfeits his portion in the world to come.”
Why is there such a harsh judgment for this person? The forfeiture of “the world to come,” represents a fundamental legal and philosophic breach of the system. The separation from and non-participation with the Jewish world on this day demonstrates one of two positions. Either the person rejects the idea of God’s divine providence over the people of Israel, or he wants to hide from identifying with and being responsible for bringing about the will of God. That will or providence is that the people of Israel should exist safely in their own land free to practice the entire system of Judaism. Either way this person has voluntarily and of their own free will chosen to abandon the people of Israel. This divorce from God’s divine plan is self- imposed and the resultant loss of “the world to come” is a natural outcome.
May all of us use this 10th day of Tevet to renew our commitment to the survival of Jewish people and its sacred God given way of life. In this merit may Hashem continue His protecting care over the Jewish people and may we soon merit to rebuild our Holy Temple in our land, the land of Israel. Then will be fulfilled the words of the prophet Zechariah 8:19 mentioned by the Rambam in the Laws of fasting, 5:19, “… in the time of the Moshiach all these fast days will be days of Yom Tov, happiness and rejoicing …”
