A Word From The RabbiDear Friend, The words and the cry, "If I forget thee O, Jerusalem!" kept us going through our exile and wanderings. Wherever we settled, we turned back to Jerusalem in prayer. Our synagogues face east, and the "mizrach" decoration in Jewish homes points the way to our ultimate destination. Even if we can't be there physically, we are there in heart and mind. Now, on Tisha B'Av, let's get as close as possible to these precious stones. Let us try to outline, if only on paper, our hopes and yearnings. "Behold, my beloved stands behind our wall, looking in the windows, peering through the cracks," wrote King Solomon in the Song of Songs. The Divine presence never left the Western Wall. The Western Wall is not only for the rich and famous. Every Jew owns a piece of the rock. And no one gets lost between the cracks. The stones reflect our differences: Big and small, whole and broken, smooth and rough, together we form a formidable wall, a fortress of faith that endures forever. The Western Wall is not just a tourist attraction or an archeological point of interest. Each stone block is like a page, each row a chapter, of our long Jewish history, written in stone. The Rock of Ages that guarantees Jewish survival. But let's face it, it's incomplete. Let's not get too comfortable with just one wall. If our own home was ruined save for one wall—no dining room, bedroom, or kitchen—would we be satisfied living in a hole in the wall? We pray daily for the Holy Temple's rebuilding through the righteous Moshiach speedily in our days. To some people, that may sound off the wall. But our belief in Moshiach is a cornerstone of Judaism. "I fully believe in Moshiach's coming. Each day I await him," is the foundation on which all else stands. We must leave no stone unturned. We must study, do mitzvot, prepare and look forward to the Redemption as we conclude Lamentations. "Return to us, O G‑d, and we will return to You. Renew our days as once before!"
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