ON THE NINTH OF AV BY Rabbi Yosef Malka [Translated from the Hebrew by Shalva Glenert]      Our sages tell us that five tragedies befell our ancestors on Tish`a B'Ab:      * The Divine ruling that we should wander for forty years in         the Desert      * The first Beith HaMiqdash [The Temple] was destroyed,      * The second Beith HaMiqdash was destroyed,      * The capture of Beitar, and      * The ruin of Yerushalayim after its destruction.      What is the connection between `Am Yisrael's [the people of Israel] banned entry to Erets Yisrael and the destruction of both Batei Miqdash on that same day?      "And the people wept on that night" Our sages discuss this pasuq. Rabbi Yohanan said: On the ninth of Av the Holy One said to them," You cried for no reason then, so now I will fix for you weeping for the generations to come"      The spies were sent out by the people to explore the land. When they returned, they reported that the land was very strong, a land "which eats its people." Upon hearing this, the people began to weep.      It was this action that which led to their being banned from the land. What was so significant about weeping on that same night which brought about this harsh punishment? Let's take a look at what the sages have taught us elsewhere about the cause of the Batei HaMiqdash destruction. We learn that the first Beith HaMiqdash was destroyed for three reasons: sexual immorality, murder, and idol worship. The second was destroyed because of groundless hatred.      So where does the connection come between the weeping caused by the spies negative reports and the Batei HaMiqdash's destruction?      The Beith HaMiqdash has its whole purpose in allowing the Sh'khinah [Divine Presence] to come down amongst `Am Yisrael, as we see from the Torah: "They shall make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell amongst them'      Our sages have pointed out that the pasuq [verse] uses the plural, "that I may dwell amongst them," rather than the singular to dwell within it (the Beith HaMiqdash).      The ultimate purpose of the Beith HaMiqdash is that the Sh'khinah should dwell within each and every one of `Am Yisrael. You may be asking how! HaShem's Sh'khinah can rest within each and every person through his learning Torah and doing the mitsvoth.      When the spies came and maligned Erets Yisrael, the people's reaction should have been one of strength: "We have nothing to worry about, because HaShem's sanctuary has brought Him to dwell amongst us, of course we'll be able to fight off the inhabitants." Their weakness was the cause of the divine ruling that they would weep for generations over the destruction of the Beith HaMiqdash.      The Beith HaMiqdash isn't built in order to bring HaShem's Presence into its own 'House', disconnected from the People, but rather to bring His presence closer, and ultimately to permeate and be amongst each one of us. What's the point of a Beith HaMiqdash where the individual doesn't feel HaShem's continual help and Providence?      The pasuq, "They shall make Me a Mishqan [Sanctuary] that I may dwell amongst them," explains the connection. The Beit HaMiqdash can only be built when we as a people are free of sin, because where the Sh'khinah will dwell is there - "amongst the people."      Whilst we mourn the destruction of our Beith HaMiqdash, let's realizes that we're actually yearning for the Sh'khinah to come and dwell in and amongst us, as the sages have taught us: "he who mourns Yerushalayim in its ruins will be rewarded with the sight of Yerushalayim rebuilt". By showing his mourning and pain over the Beith HaMiqdash's ruin he will naturally hope and strive for the bringing down of the Sh'khinah and the closeness to HaShem.      Let's end with a prayer: "May You rebuild the holy city of Yerushalayim speedily in our days." Amen.

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