Rabbi Akiva - The Ultimate Optimist
PARSHAS DEVARIM
Good Shabbos! It was Thursday morning. Half way through the mourning period called “the Nine Days”, when all of Israel mourns the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago. We had just finished our Shachris service and one of our regular morning attendees saw Mr. Len Schram who is a Louisville native, but has been living in Israel for the past 25 years.
”I haven’t seen you in quite some time’, asked this man of Mr. Schram. “Where have you been”? Mr. Schram replied “I have been in the exact place where I belong. I have been in Jerusalem”.
”If I forget thee ‘O Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its cunning. If I fail to elevate Jerusalem above my foremost joy, then let my tongue cleave to its palate.”
Jerusalem was the site of the Temple which was the gateway to heaven and to G-d. King David, purchased the land for the Holy Temple from the local inhabitants, knowing full well the holiness of the site. This was the very site upon which Abraham prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice unto G-d. It was on this same site that Jacob laid down his head and had his prophetic dream of angels going up and coming down a ladder reaching to heaven.
King Solomon built the Temple on that very site and it stood for over 400 years as the conduit of spirituality between heaven and earth. But then, “Mipnai Chotosainu Galinu Mayoursainu - Because of our sins we were banished from our land”. We therefore mourn, not just for the loss of our homeland or our power or our self-rule, we mourn the loss of the physical conduit of spirituality on earth.
Each year on Tisha Bav we fast and we cry and we beg G-d to forgive our sins and return us to Jerusalem. Specifically this year, when Tisha Bav begins on Saturday night, we begin our fast before Sunset which means we finish eating by 8:40 pm tonight. We do not eat the egg dipped in ashes on Shabbos, for the Shabbos it not a time of mourning. We then recite the Maariv prayers at 9:25 followed by the reading of the Book of Aicha at 9:45.
Many would say that Tisha bav is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, and they would be right. I am sure that when the Temple was destroyed many thought that Judaism would be gone in short order. But they were wrong!
What kept Judaism alive for the past 2000 years? There are many answers but one answer is the Jews absolute refusal to give up. It is the Jews commitment to be forever optimistic, work hard and have faith in G-d, that has enabled him to overcome all odd and thrive under all conditions. This kind of optimism was taught by the great sage, Rabbi Akiva.
The Talmud recounts the following story: The Holy Temple lay in ruins, its beauty and splendor plowed over by the conquering Roman armies. The Jews who were left in Jerusalem were in a state of despair. Four great rabbis were walking along a road in Israel. Suddenly they heard a rumbling sound rising from the distance. One rabbi inquired of the others, “What is that noise?” “That is the joyous celebrations of our Roman persecutors,” replied another.
Three of the rabbis began to weep; the fourth, Rabbi Akiva, began to laugh. The others were surprised by their colleague’s reaction and asked, “Akiva, why are you laughing?” He countered: “Why are you crying?”
They said: “Here we see that the Romans, who destroyed the Temple and worship idols are enjoying themselves, and we who worship G-d are conquered and degraded. Why shouldn’t we weep?”
Rabbi Akiva replied: “That is precisely why I am laughing. For, if this is the lot of those who violate the will of G-d, how much more joyous will be the future for us Jews who do His will?”
On another occasion the same four Sages were traveling together towards Jerusalem. When they reached the Mount of Olives, they tore their clothes [in mourning] as is prescribed by Jewish law. Proceeding further they arrived at the Temple Mount, and as they gazed toward the Holy of Holies — where the sacred incense had been offered to the Al-mighty — they saw a fox emerging. Three of the rabbis began to weep. Rabbi Akiva, however, began to laugh.
They turned to Akiva and asked, “Why are you laughing?” He asked in return, “Why are you weeping?” They answered him, “This is the place of which it is written, ‘And the stranger who approaches will surely die.’ Only the High priest of Israel would walk on this holy ground. Yet, now we see foxes strolling about. Why should we not weep?”
Replied Akiva, “That is precisely why I am laughing. In the prophecy of Uria it says, ‘Because of your sins, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will be desolate and the Temple Mount will be like a forest.’ The prophecy of Zecharia says, ‘Aged men and women will yet sit in joy in the streets of Jerusalem.’
“Before I saw the prophecy of Uria fulfilled, I worried that the prophecy of Zecharia might also not be fully realized. But now that I have witnessed the fulfillment of the first, I know surely that the second will come to pass as well.” They turned to him and said, “Akiva, you have comforted us!
Akiva was the ultimate optimist, and it was his faith and optimism that enabled the Jews to rebuild their future and maintain Judaism in the face of any and all difficulties and trying circumstances throughout the centuries.
I went back to my office thinking how everything comes from G-d, and we have to be positive and optimistic. That is when I was accosted with the next bombshell of the day. As you all know, for the past 15 years, the Kroger store at McMahan Plaza employed a Kosher butcher and provided fresh cut kosher meat and baked goods to the community. Well, on Thursday morning, that relationship came to an abrupt end. Stanley Goldberg came into my office to inform me that he was terminated at Kroger and then Kroger called to inform me that Stan would no longer be working there.
I wondered: What would Rabbi Akiva say about all of this? Would he say we should cry and say all is lost? Or should we look for a way to turn this around and see a better kosher program rise from this situation?
I do not yet know what the future will bring - but I met with the Kroger Management and they assured me they are committed to providing our community with our kosher needs. I have scheduled 2 additional meeting with them over the next two weeks, and hope to have good news to report back in the very near future.
One thing I do know. If people give up then all is lost. Akiva taught that if people remain optimistic then success will follow. Akiva was not a fool. He realized what reality was. When he came to the Temple Mount, he cut his garment and mourned for the Temple. Yet he did not stop there. He encouraged those around him to be optimistic and taught that faith and optimism are the assurances of long term success.
It is no different today that it was 2000 years ago. We need to be optimistic and do all we can to encourage G-d to fulfill the prophecies of returning all Jews to Israel with the coming of Moshiach. Until then, we must remember the promises of the Talmud: “Whosoever mourns for Jerusalem, will merit to witness her rejoicing.” So may it be, and let us say AMAIN.
Tags: Jerusalem, optimism, Temple, Tisha B'av
