AHAVAS CHINOM

"Some people see things that ARE and ask 'Why?’

I see things that NEVER WERE and I ask 'Why not?’

There are times in life when we are to take our hopes and dreams into the future and create a life of productivity.

  This Friday we will observe Rosh Chodesh, Menachem Av.  It is a time that ushers a mournful period as we remember, with anguished hearts, the destruction of our holy Beit Hamikdash. As we keep these memories alive in our hearts, we equally realize that the name of this month Menachem Av, uses the word Menachem which, while emphasizing the trials and tribulations of the past, we are so hopeful and so confidant in the saving power of G-D, that we add the word  Menachem - that all our tribulations will turn into months of comfort and joy. In fact, Chazal says that on Tishah  B'Av, the Mashiach was born. What an amazing optimistic feeling. We all need to take to heart whenever we are faced with difficulties and look to heaven for inspiration that will bring a glorious Bracha to our personal lives and to the lives of the entire Jewish People.

   Let us remember, well, that the calamities that befell our people were due to Sinas  Chinam, an attitude that has been our downfall from time immemorial. We have been entrusted with the opportunity to become a Tikun for K’lall Yisrael with our Ahavas Chinum. 

    More than anything in the world we must always remember that we have each other.  As Jews our Arevut will sustain us at all times. 

    We are to learn to magnify our blessings instead of exaggerating our troubles. 

     In one of his letters, Robert Southey, the nineteenth century English poet, tells of a Spaniard who “Always put on his glasses when he was about to eat strawberries, so that they might look bigger and more tempting". In the same way we should put on our spiritual glasses when viewing our blessings and maybe we will begin to appreciate and be thankful for all our blessings that are too often taken for granted.

   We watched, with great trepidation, at the miraculous intervention and saving of the young boys and their coach in the cave in Thailand.  When all were freed it was a moment of great exaltation and reaffirmation of the worthiness of life and the need to cherish the blessings of the life sustaining forces in our midst. 

  True, this may be a sorrowful period on our calendar, but with the realization of our blessings, a greater feeling of optimism will overpower us and we will, then, cherish the words of our Prophet Isaiah, 

   רחצו הזכו הסירו רע מעלליכם מנגד עיני, "Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes,” says Hashem. 

   אחרי כן יקרא לך עיר הצדק קריה נאמנה, "Then, you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city". 

   As we commence the nine day period of mourning, and by setting an example of true human values, and with faith and righteousness, Israel's radiant influence will lead the world back to a sane order and peace will reign on earth and together we will gather to celebrate the coming of the Mashiach.