Abuilding should ultimately be judged not by its height or dimensions, but by its structural integrity
Over two millennia ago, a magnificent building stood on a mount in Judea. The building was impressive and splendid and admired by all.
All, that is, except for Chazal.
When Nevuchadnetzar destroyed the Beis Hamikdash and boasted that he had “bested” HaKadosh Baruch Hu, a voice said in response, “You have ground into flour that which was already flour” (Midrash Rabbah Shir Hashirim 3:4). Meaning, the Beis Hamikdash was already rotten and destroyed from within because of our sins; all that Nevuchadnetzar accomplished was to bring this state of spiritual decay into plain view.
This is an incredible description of a state of affairs whose reality was so different from its appearance. “Man sees with his eyes, while Hashem probes the heart” (I Shmuel 12:7).
In the last few months, Klal Yisrael has been centrally involved in three devastating structural crashes: on Lag B’omer in Meron, on Shavuos in Karlin, and right before Shivah Asar B’Tammuz in Surfside. Each of the many resulting petiros is an enormous tragedy beyond words. And the resulting horrific injuries and trauma are, of course, yet additional layers to the tragedies. This article intends to speak only to the experience of our tzibbur’s tragedy — as Klal Yisrael — and not to the individuals who were, Rachmana litzlan, directly involved in the disasters.
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