Tisha B'Av 5777

Like last year, when I got home from shul this morning I was able to listen to the live webcast of the end of Kinot at the Yeshiva University Jerusalem Campus, with Rav Dovid Gottlieb.  One of the things he spoke about was honesty, even with non-Jews.

He quoted from the SMa"G (Sefer Mitzvot Gedolot) who said the way to end the Galut is to cling to Hashems 'signature,' which is Emet, truth, EVEN when it's technically permitted to lie (as in certain dealings with non-Jews.)  He quotes the Navi Tz'fania (3:13), "The remnant of Israel does not do iniquity or speak lies, and a deceitful tongue cannot be found in their mouths..."  He goes on to say that if we are honest in all our dealings, when the Geula comes the world will say that Hashem did justly.  On the other hand, if we are not, and at some point Hashem saves us anyway, the world will say that Hashem chose for His portion thieves and liars.

The SMa"G also quotes that the reason for the mabul is chamas, which is robbery and violence.  On the other side, he quotes one of the stories from Chazal about non-Jews praising Hashem because Jews were honest with them.  (Rav Gottlieb added the most well-known one, of Shimon ben Shetach and the donkey with the jewel.)

The emphasis of Tisha B'Av, as I have repeated over and over, is that we have no one to blame but ourselves.  The answer is t'shuva...not davening longer or making sure to supersize your k'zayit of matza on Pesach, but bein adam l'chavero.  And here we have a reminder...truth is the guiding light for all of us to follow.  If we can all do that, we can truly bring us closer to Mashiach.