Rav Y. A. Rosenberg (1), quotes Rav Yitzchak Blazer:
“Let’s contemplate the difference between the people in those days and us. 1. In their time, even among ordinary Jews, if one committed an aveira b’shogeig (inadvertently), he would worry deeply to achieve a kapora. 2. One who committed such a sin, would be ashamed when others would find out. It would be so shameful that just the embarrassment alone would be an atonement.
“Now consider the situation regarding ourselves! 1. If someone stumbles with a sin b’shogeig, does he seek a kapora? If only one would seek a kapora for his deliberate transgressions! 2. Who is ashamed for sins b’shogeig? If someone breaks the rules of Shabbos b’shogeig, is he ashamed to tell another person? This is because such an error is not considered anything shameful.” (Kochvei Or, 3)
Yirei Shomayim in Halacha
Rav Rosenberg raises the question (2), “Why does the Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 1:3) say that it’s fit for a yirei shomayim (one who fears heaven) to be distressed over the Churban? Shouldn’t this apply even if one is not a yirei shomayim?” He refers us to the Chidushei Harim in Sefer Haz’chus (daf beis in the current edition):
“It’s fit to be worried about this alone — that he’s not truly distressed over the Churban. It’s a sign that he’s ‘outside’ until Hashem has mercy on him to bring him in to Klal Yisrael — to feel their lacking and rejoice over their simcha.”
The Sefer Ohel Moshe (3) explains further. The yirei shomayim are concerned throughout the year about the Churban. We have halachos during the three weeks, but if a person only keeps these laws, this is on the outside, only external. The yirei shomayim are deeply, internally concerned about Kavod Shomayim.
Let’s pay attention not only to our personal losses, but to the loss for Hashem — the Galus of the Shechina. Rav Wolbe writes, “The Churban of the Beis Hamikdash is the Churban of the world. There is no corner of purity, no place of Kedusha for Hashem’s Presence to reside… someone lacking Yiras Shomayim doesn’t even know what to mourn for…” (4)
See further (5), “One who senses the Galus of the Shechina within himself, is pained that he cannot cleave to Hashem properly and feels the Churban Hamikdash in his heart… this is already solving the Galus of the Shechina in his heart…”
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1.Avodas Yemei Bein Hamitzarim, p. 45.
2.Ibid., p. 34, in the name of the Chidushei Harim.
3.Inyanei Hamikdash V’hagalus, pp. 54-55.
4.Alei Shor, quoted in Avodas Yemei Bein Hamitzarim, p. 34.
5.Rav Dessler, Ibid. p. 37
Cover Image: Cracked Wall Flaking by Lynn Greyling, with CC BY-NC-SA 1.0 license on Public Domain Pictures