REPOST: The Three Weeks 5777 (for 5779)

B"H

When saying the Akeidah in Shacharis this morning, I noticed something that I probably should have contemplated before:  The phrase that Avraham Avinu and Yitzchok Avinu 'went together' is really emphasized a lot. 

And this got me thinking; look at how important being together and united is.  Avraham and Yitzchok Avinu certainly could not have properly performed Hashem's Will and pass this difficult test if they were, Chas V'Shalom, fighting and disputing along the way.  Only when they went together...This goes for every one of us as well:  

We will not be able to properly fulfill Hashem's Will -- and we are not properly fulfilling His Will -- if we, Chas V'Shalom, are fighting amongst ourselves.  We must unite and be together.

And on the other hand, if we do come together and have Achdus, we can overcome even the hardest test...

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This is an especially good time to think of the importance of Achdus:  We are now holding in the time known as 'Bein HaMitzarim', or 'The Three Weeks' -- and even further, the saddest part of these weeks, The Nine Days.

Why are we mourning now?  Why is it sad?  Because, as we probably know, both Batei HaMikdash were destroyed at this time.

But what is one of the reasons we are told (Yoma 9b) why the Second one -- the one right before this Exile -- was destroyed?  Why are we in this Galus?  Because of Sinas Chinam -- baseless hatred.  Unfounded hatred between Jews.

If anything, this problem is perhaps greater -- or worse -- today.  Look at how much fighting, strife, etc. in our midst -- and maybe even some, if we look, coming from us! We can call our strife and dislike of other Jews whatever we want and give many reasons, but when it comes down to it, it is still 'Chinam' -- 'baseless'.

So what we must do is concentrate on the message we saw from the Akeidah -- one of the great moments of Jewish History -- and try to take it to heart and, B'Ezras Hashem, put it into action.  Can we correct everyone else's strife?  Perhaps not -- right away.  But what we can do is work on ourselves, trying to come together with others, to not cause strife, and to live with Achdus.  This, in turn, will also influence and help others to do so as well.  And in that merit, we will all merit the Ultimate alleviation from problems and tribulations -- the Geulah Shleimah.  May Hashem help everyone to come together with Achdus, rectifying the reason for this Galus, and may He make this Tisha B'Av an incredibly joyous one, Amein.