We lament today the beginning of the end of the Yerushalayim and the Beis Hamikdosh. Much of what we do and don't do these next three weeks is to make sure we never forget the destruction of what once was on that Holy Mountain in the Holy City and the great men who walked there. At times it seems like we're content on remembering the old and not thinking about the new. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, zy"a, asked that during the 3 weeks we learn the Hilchos Beis HaBechiroh of the Rambam, so that we know what we once had and that we look forward to what will be rebuilt, speedily in our days. One might say this idea is very much in-line with the Rebbe's way of thinking, which is to focus on the future, but to use our past as our guiding light. When it comes to Golus/Geulah the Rebbe would focus on bringing the Geulah, hoping for it every day, and doing all that we can to make it a reality. I can see where some of you may be uncomfortable with that, maybe because you think that it somehow lessens the mourning aspect of the 3 weeks, but rest assured: It is possible to balance both, and it needn't be mixed up with current-day Tziyonus either! It is possible to follow all mandated laws of mourning and at the same time hope for redemption, may it be speedily, in our days. The Rebbe showed us how.
Al kol ponim l'fi aniyus da'ati....
