Do We Really Crave The End To The Galut?
The Benei Gad and Benei Reuvein are criticized for being focused more on their cattle and wealth than on their love of Eretz Yisrael. How many of us fall into that same category?
The Shem Mishmuel (Masa’ei 5677) points out that the suffering of the travels in the wilderness were Israel’s preparation for entering the Land with all it’s sanctity. The fact that our Galut has been so much longer and harder than theirs indicates how much more valuable Eretz Yisrael will be in the post Messianic era than it was in the post Mosaic era. There is discomfort and pain in travel (Masa’ot), but in that discomfort there is growth, and preparation for a new life in Eretz Yisrael.
But there is growth in pain only when pain is experienced. An anaesthetized person does not grow from the pain they experience while under anesthetic. I sometimes worry whether many of us (me included) truly feel the pain of Galut and thereby grow, or whether we are anaesthetized from the pain and feel comfortable in our state of spiritual mindlessness. Do we feel so comfortable in Galut that Israel and it’s wellbeing comes second, or do we feel the discomfort of our situation, grow from the pain, and crave our return to Eretz Yisrael?
These are the questions to ponder during the Three Weeks, as we too should daven each day – with our families – for the well being of our beloved Land and our people.
