A vision of the third Holy Temple

This Shabbos we begin reading the fifth and final book of the Torah, the book of Devarim, Deuteronomy. The Haftorah is a special one that we read on the Shabbos before Tisha B’Av. It begins with the prophetic Vision of Isaiah. Hence the name Shabbos Chazon (Vision). 

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Bardichev taught that on this Shabbos every Jewish person has a vision of the third Holy Temple. So while the general concept of the Haftorah highlights the coming day of Tisha B’Av and days of mourning, the Chassidic Masters also see the positive side of it. 

The rabbi offers a parable about a young boy who was gifted a beautiful Shabbos suit by his father. But instead of taking care of it, he ran around and played games and ruined the suit. His father bought him a second one and the same thing happened. So the father bought a third one. However, he didn’t give it to the son. He put it in a closet and told him that it was ready for him whenever he was willing and able to take care of it. From time to time, he would open the closet door and remind his young son that the suit was waiting for him and once he could appreciate the value of it, it would be his. 

So too with us. Hashem has given us the two Holy Temples in Jerusalem. They were destroyed due to our misdeeds. So, every year on Shabbos Chazon, Hashem gives us a vision of the third Holy Temple. Even though we don’t necessarily see it in actuality, our soul (subconscious) sees it. 

The vision is granted in order to awaken a feeling and desire in us to see it rebuilt in actuality. This is done by increasing our observance of mitzvot and Torah study. Of course, the main mitzvah we emphasise at this point is the love of our fellow and unity with the community. 

The Midrash tells us that Moshiach was born on Tisha B’Av. This is a metaphor to explain that from the ashes comes rebuilding. Even in the darkest of night we eagerly await the crack of dawn. Let’s be ready! 

• Rabbi Levi Silman, Rabbinical coordinator for Kosher SA