By Rabbi Eliezer Rafaelmehr
On the 9th of Av we sit on the floor and cry. We cry of the terrible misfortunes that have befallen us over the past 2,000 years since the Temple has been destroyed.
Rav Spero tells the story about the Chozeh Lublin. It was the 9th of Av and he was sitting on the floor when his personal attendant proposed the following question:
Someone approached me and said, “What should I do? I have a Ketuba (marriage contract), but my wife tore it apart and then pasted it back together with glue. The glue she used contains chometz (which one is forbidden to have benefit from on Passover). I therefore want to know, is it permitted for me to be together with my wife on Passover?”
The people sitting around the Chozeh chuckled in laughter in response to what they had just overheard, but the Chozeh looked around and said, “If only you would understand what the attendant is saying. Hashem gave us the Torah and we defiled and mistreated it, and now we desperately attempt to paste it. It’s pasted with actions of chometz, inadequate and meager performances. The question we should ask is: our actions might barely carry us through the exile, but will it be sufficient for “Passoverâ€, the final redemption?” The Chozeh burst out crying once more.
May Hashem accept our prayers and repentance as a ketuba that will be suitable for the final redemption.