Tisha B’Av: Churban Around The World

The destruction of the Bameikdash changed the world drastically and dramatically. Wherever you go around the world, you can feel besamed. It is felt profoundly in Rome, especially by the monuments that commemorate the Roman victory over Jerusalem. especially at the Arch of Titus. >> One of the most dramatic scenes in all of Imperial Rome, the Arch of Titus, depicting the Roman away various vessels, various ca of the Ba Mikdash, including the iconic Manoa. But when Titus destroyed the city of Jerusalem and burnt the temple and plundered the caum of the Bameikdash, the Schulhan, the Katso, and especially the Manoa, and he brought them back to Rome, and he exalted in victory. Retribution was soon to come. Just go to the city of Pompei, where you'll see how the city was destroyed when Mount Vuvius erupted and covered the whole city in volcanic ash. Okay, we're at the gate of Pompei. I just want to give you historical background of when this destruction took place in the context of Jewish history. Titos took over the job of destroying the temple. 9 years later, Vespasian dies, Titus becomes the emperor. The year Titus became the emperor of Rome, this city was destroyed. Rabbi Barlowine writes, "It's not a coincidence. The moment Titos took power, he was paid back measure for measure. Terrible catastrophes happened as soon as Titus took place. You can travel as far as France and you'll see the power of the Roman Empire and how far it extended. >> Okay, we're at one of the great historic sites in the Provence Point Dard which is uh the Roman aqueduct. So, this was built in the year between 60 and 80 after the common era. And this is one of the greatest architectural feats of the Romans. You know, the construction of this site means and that's exactly when it happened. The Romans came and as part of their conquest of European continent, they destroyed the second mikdash. So this is really a monument of the Kurban. You'll see their impressive buildings and structures and these structures represent not only the power of the Roman Empire but it represents the destruction of Yaleim. As the Gomorrah teaches us, when Rome rises and ascends, Jerusalem descends. And the power of the Roman Empire represents Bikdash and But amazingly, you can gain an appreciation for the beauty and the grandeur of the pain of its destruction by beholding the natural beauty around the world. De Brriskarov was asked, "How should one be moved by watching and looking at the beauty of the Alps, the Haro Alfim? What should one see when one looks at the Alps?" And the Briskarov says, "Well, the Gomorrah says that 10 measures of beauty descended to the world. Nine of them were taken by Shaim and one to the rest of the world." Therefore says the briskarov when you see the beauty of the Alps what you're really seeing is the beauty of in gulos. So amazingly merely looking and beholding the Alps is an exercise in appreciating bamash. [Music] Aside from seeing the in the natural beauty of the world, when one sees the power, the prestige, the wealth, the riches, the affluence of the nations of the world, of the kings of the world, when the looked at that, the was saddened that those who violate the will of Hashem are so successful. But on the other hand, it infused the with great hope similar to Rabi Akiba because the said if the nations of the world, if the kings of the world who have violated Hashem's will enjoy such success and happiness, Alas all the more so will Clalis and the Melashiach enjoy happiness, affluence, and the greatest of success. And therefore when the khav visited the tower of London and he saw the riches of the royalty of England on the one hand he was saddened but on the other hand it inspired him to yearn for the great day of the coming of Msiah. >> Okay we're here rooftop in the old city of looking over the harabayas. Below we could see >> by the five arches on the right we see the makum of the azor. This area is where housed the besd and then further in the shan. The place in the world today where we can feel mikash most profoundly is inim especially looking at the clea writes if you merely look at the azor you will be a different person forever. So now take in the opportunity. You're looking at the holiest spot in the world. We don't have a basikash today. It's shuimm the foxes roam on the harabas. Many swarm teach us the shuaim is. But on the other hand, when we see Jushim and we look at the Harabas, we dream of the great day of the coming of the redemption of the coming of Messiah when we will be Zo to build the Bameikash and the Bameik Shala will come down from Shamayim on the Harabas and infuse the Bameik Shata like in a shama fills a guff. Hashem, may we all merit. Amen. [Music]