Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

You know how it goes. Sometimes the kasha is great, but the teretz disappoints. Sometimes it’s vice versa. Not this time. Get ready.

If the most significant, and oft-cited reason for the Churban was clearly sin’as chinom – baseless hatred – why do we have a halacha NOT to say “Hello,” or “Good morning,” on Tisha B’Av? Farkert! Especially on that day, we should go out of our way to greet our fellow Jews?!?

Answers Harav Yitzchok Vorko zt”l: Because more often than not, our greetings to each other are, in fact, perfunctory, forced, and insincere. THAT is sin’as chinom. So on Tisha B’Av we STOP that disingenuous behavior. The next day, we can resolve to say, “Hello,” with real simcha, and “How are you?” like we really mean it. That new and heartfelt care is exactly the tikkun we need to lay the foundation for the eternal Beis Hamikdash.

There’s something beautiful about small Jewish communities in out-of-town places — Cleveland, Memphis, Phoenix, or even suburban New Jersey. On Shabbos, seeing another frum Yid on the street is a highlight. You feel