This Thursday is Tisha b'Av (the ninth of Av), which is the day we mourn the destruction of the first and second Temples by fasting. It is also a time when we remember the suffering and tragedies that have affected the Jewish nation in the last two thousand years of exile.

There is a story in the Talmud, when the great sage Rabbi Akiva and some of his colleagues visited the Temple Mount shortly after the Temple was destroyed. When they arrived, a fox was in the area where the High Holies once stood. Seeing this painful sight the rabbis began to cry. Except Rabbi Akiva, who began to laugh.

Confused, the others questioned Rabbi Akiva's happiness. He responded: "In the writings of the prophets we read of two prophecies—one of destruction, and the other of hope and ultimate redemption. As I stand here and witness the fulfillment of the first prediction I am confident that the second will also take place."

From this story we can gain a perspective on how to approach painful and challenging experiences.

People unfortunately face challenges on many levels—minor setbacks, relationship breakdowns, sickness, loss of loved ones or significant suffering. Whatever the experience is, this Talmudic story teaches that there are two critical components to the healing process. On the one hand we can and should cry, grieve, and mourn. Suppressing our emotions is very unhealthy. We should be sensitive to our own and other's pain and beg G‑d to bring salvation.

On the other hand, we also have it within us the ability to move on, let go and look forward with hope, strength and optimism. After we grieve or cry we leave the world of sorrow and move into the world of action, doing whatever possible to create a better tomorrow. Rabbi Akiva's laughter was not a naive view of the destruction around him—he too felt the pain. Rather it was a declaration of hope, resilience, faith and feeling of certainty that there will be a better future.

Every Tisha b'Av we mourn for the long exile and our history of oppression and persecution. But the very next day, the period of mourning comes to an end and we focus on the future with hope and belief that soon Tisha b'Av will be transformed into a day of happiness; with the final redemption—may it take place soon.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zalman ... See more

July 4th, Independence Day, a day that marks all the wonderful things about our country.

As a Jew there is one thing in particular that I find so important, freedom of religion. We have the ability to believe as we choose, without the fear of persecution by government or from anyone else.

An interesting point to note is that this year July 4th falls out on the Hebrew date of 12th of Tammuz. On this day in 1927, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe was miraculously released from prison in the former Soviet Union after originally being sentenced to death for crimes against the Russian government.

What was the "crime" the Rebbe committed to deserve serving a life sentence? He was spreading Yiddishkeit by establishing underground Jewish schools and opening Mikvehs (ritual bath), among many other so called crimes.

What the previous Rebbe did for the Soviet Russia he repeated for the United States. In 1940, he arrived in New York, and although he was no longer subjected to religious persecution, he was confronted with other handicaps. Judaism in America was floundering. The Previous Rebbe was facing complete indifference from the majority of the American Jewish community. His life mission was now focused on bringing Judaism to the masses and replacing the indifference with a spark and joy for Yiddishkeit. Eighty years later America and countries around the world are bursting with the fireworks that were ignited by the Previous Rebbe's vision.

So on this day, July 4th and on the 12th of Tammuz let us exercise and actualize this beautiful right of ours to practice our religion. What better way to celebrate that right than to perform a mitzvah!

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zalman

Light candles tonight before 8:18 p.m. (Earliest time one can light candles is 7:06)
Shabbat is over tomorrow night at 9:28 p.m ... See more