Who Gets to See the third Beis HaMikdash on Shabbos Chazon?

By RABBI CHAIM LEVI YITZCHAK GINSBERG A”H •

Just moments before Shabbos, Rabbi Chayim Levi Yitzchak Ginsberg passed away at 61 years old after suffering a stroke r”l. Rabbi Ginsberg’s popular articles filled with Chasidishe stories and chizuk, strengthened the emunah of many Chassidim and were a staple of Beis Moshiach for many years.

A full retrospective of his life will be published in the subsequent weeks. We bring here a portion of a farbrengen written by Rabbi Ginsberg a”h, in honor of Shabbos Chazon.

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There is a famous teaching of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev in connection with Shabbos Chazon, cited by Reb Hillel Paritcher, which says that “chazon” refers to the “vision” shown to every Jew. For on this Shabbos, every Jew is shown the Third Beis Hamikdash from Above.

But Rabbi Levi Yitzchak does not leave matters there. He also adds a parable:

A great king sewed an expensive and beautiful garment for his son. However, the son did not know how to appreciate the wonderful gift he had received. He romped and played until the garment was torn to shreds. The father saw how upset his son was, so he made a second garment and gave it to him. But even this time, the son was not careful and it was torn again. The father then sewed a third garment for his son, but this time, he didn’t give him the garment, rather, he put it in safe keeping. Only “on regular infrequent occasions,” would he take out the garment and show it to him, while telling him that when he behaves himself as he should, then the garment will be given to him. The king did this in order to awaken in his son the longing and desire to receive the garment. As a result, he began to go on the straight path.

To what may this compared? The “garment” is the Beis Hamikdash – the first and second ones which we were not wise enough to protect and thus both were destroyed. However, the Third Beis Hamikdash – while it has already been made and it stands ready built, perfect in every detail – waits for us to return to the straight path. For this reason, we are shown the Third Beis Hamikdash on Shabbos Chazon in order to awaken within us the longing, the thirst, and the proper conduct to receive it. When we act accordingly, it will be revealed and come from Heaven before the eyes of all of us, immediately, mamash.

But I Don’t See It!

The Rebbe Shlita says (Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 9, from p. 24) that we can understand from this parable that the intention is not to show the Beis Hamikdash to tzaddikim and great chassidim. The whole purpose of this vision is in order for the son to return to the straight path. Therefore, it is shown primarily to someone who needs to return to the straight path, i.e., those who until now have not followed the straight path.

The Rebbe continues his explanation: Most people, particularly those who until now have not followed the straight path, do not see the vision of the Third Beis Hamikdash in a revealed way. There are even some who have never heard of such a thing.

However, the part of the soul that is found Above and is not enclothed in the body sees this and is awakened with a fervor, longing and desire to receive the Beis Hamikdash in the physical sense. This even has an effect on the lower part of the soul which is enclothed in the body. It also makes him go on the straight path, to the point that it becomes part of his nature. Then, the Third Beis Hamikdash will be revealed for all to see.

You See Despite Yourself

The fact that we don’t see or feel the vision does not contradict the essence of the matter. As is known in the famous saying of the Rebbe Rayatz (which has been brought and explained many times by the Rebbe Shlita MH”M): “Tzi den veil der ferd iz a ferd, iz der malach kein malach nisht?” (=since the horse is a horse, is therefore the angel not a angel?”). In other words, when the wagon travels for long distances, and the driver whips the horses and pushes them to run faster in order to reach the appointed destination, the horses begin to ask themselves: Why do we have to run so fast to get to another place? What’s the problem with the place where we are now?

When they finally reach the destination, they bring the horses into the stable, and feed them oats. The horses then say to themselves, “Now we ‘understand’ why we ran so hard and exerted ourselves so much. It was all in order to get here and eat these terrific oats.”

The wagon driver, whose intellect is higher than a horse’s, understands that the purpose of the journey is not the “oats”, animal fodder. His “aspirations” are on a much more fitting level. He “understands” that the purpose of the journey is the money that he will receive for the trip.

Sitting in the wagon is a group of chachamim. They are speaking about those matters which are truly of the highest importance and concern in the world. Words of wisdom and philosophy (referred to by the expression “angels” – “intellect separate from physicality”). The true purpose of the journey is to comprehend these words as is fitting and to translate them into action. This brings us back to the saying of the Rebbe Rayatz: “Tzi den veil der ferd iz a ferd, iz der malach kein malach nisht?” – since the horse is a horse, and all its aspirations are in matters of “horse sense”, such as eating oats, that means the angel is no angel?

A Horse, A Coachman & An Angel

The Rebbe also explains the particular details of this parable. The “horse” is the animal soul; its entire purpose and aspiration is materialism and physicality. The wagon driver is the intellectual soul which lead the “horses” and is much higher than them. However, it has no concept of  “angels”, of high and lofty matters with relevance only to the G-dly soul. However, with regard to our discussion, the main thing is the simple interpretation of the parable:

The fact is that we are “horses” and we neither see nor feel. But this fact does not change the true reality established and said by Torah, the Torah of Truth and the Torah of Life.

“The purpose of the journey” represents the true reason why we are in this world. Even though the “horses” don’t understand, it is clear that the purpose of our soul’s journey to this world is not to eat, drink, and enjoy life, rather a true and eternal G-dly purpose. However, even with regard to the details of this matter, when Torah tells us that on this day the soul sees the Beis Hamikdash, this is a fact, plain and simple – even if we don’t see and we don’t feel, or even if we never heard of such a thing.

What’s the Point of Seeing, if I’m not Aware?

These things were true before the parable of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev became known. Only in the most recent generations, during a much harsher form of exile and a need for greater strength, along with the fact that we are so much closer to the True and Complete Redemption that we can almost taste it, has this matter been revealed. First it was known to a select few, but afterwards, it was explained and publicized on a much wider scale.

The more we contemplate this, the more deeply it is instilled in us, giving us greater strength to accustom ourselves to walk along the straight path until it becomes completely “natural.” Then, we will receive in an open and revealed manner before our very eyes – the Third Beis Hamikdash, together with Melech HaMoshiach, who will take us all out of the Exile, and bring us all to the True and Complete Redemption.

We have already mentioned from the parable that it is the King’s will that we walk “on the straight path.” First and foremost, this path refers to following the instructions of the Rebbe, specifically those instructions that pertain to these days. This is an appropriate opportunity to remind people again about them.

The Special “Nine Days” Horaos – Siyumim

Regarding these days – The Nine Days – it has been said, “When [the month of] Av begins, we reduce [matters of] joy.” The Rebbe Shlita brings the interpretation of the Ba’al Shem Tov that we “reduce” in all those matters which are the opposite of revealed good through “joy.” This means the “joy” of Torah and mitzvos – of course, in a way that is halachically permissable – which reduces the matters which are the opposite of good and hastens the complete revelation with the True and Complete Redemption.

Therefore, the Rebbe awakened and reminded people about the importance during these days of organizing “siyumim.” of Talmudic tractates in every possible location, and to make every effort that as many Jews as possible will participate and hear the “siyumim”. Once, the Rebbe expressed himself on the matter by suggesting that when you meet another Jew on the street, you should say the last few words of a tractate in Gemara, thus giving him the chance to participate in a siyum. In particular, the siyumim should be held on the various radio stations, whenever and wherever possible, “and whoever increases…is considered praiseworthy.” Yasher koach and great is the merit to the organizers.

Special attention should be given to the Rebbe’s instructions from 5751 to continue arranging “siyumim” until and including the 15th of Av, and make a farbrengen on the 15th of Av for the public at-large. Needless to say, efforts should be made to have the siyumim on the radio until the 15th of Av as well.

8 Chapters for 8 Days

Similarly, there is a less publicized instruction to learn on each of the eight days, from Rosh Chodesh Av to Erev Tisha B’Av, one chapter of the Rambam’s Hilchos Beis HaBechira. As is known, through this study, it is considered that “the building of My house has not been left idle,” and there is fulfilled, according to the wondrous innovation of the Rebbe Shlita, the mitzvah of “and they will make Me a sanctuary”. The main thing is that all this should hasten the revelation of the Third Beis Hamikdash in actual deed, “built and perfect, it will be revealed and come from Heaven”, with the complete revelation of the Rebbe and the True and Complete Redemption, speedily and immediately, mamash. ■