Tuesday, July 28, 2009

A Cry Of Hope

Legend has it that Plato the philosopher met Yirmiyahu the prophet, weeping bitter dirges about the Temple destruction. After witnessing Yirmiyahu's great wisdom, he inquired how it could be appropriate for a sage like him to cry about the past. Yirmiyahu replied that he could not answer this question since Plato would not be able understand it. What he meant is that he wouldn't appreciate the Jewish people's longing for the blessed Divine Light. Conversely the Jews of the Holocaust, as is known, weren't able to cry, for their situation was utterly desperate. Crying for the Holy Beis HaMikdash, however, is very different. Behold it is a cry of hope!

(Nesivos Sholom)