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A selection of letters and sichos of the Rebbe on how to incorporate joy into Tisha B’Av until Moshiach comes:

1. Serving Hashem with Joy Even in Mourning

There’s a famous Chassidishe teaching: “Serve Hashem with joy” [meaning that] even Tisha B’Av – which will speedily transform to joy and gladness with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu – should be observed with an underlying feeling of joy. We have the tremendous privilege and opportunity to fulfill the command of the King of kings, HaKadosh Baruch Hu. The Rambam rules at the end of Hilchos Lulav that one who refrains from joy “deserves punishment,” while one who serves with joy performs “great service.”

(Igros Kodesh Vol. 12, p. 257, Letter #4117)

2. The Joy That Begins on Tisha B’Av

…We are now standing after the sad days of the three weeks have already passed … after these days pass, the joy becomes extraordinarily great, as the Mishna explicitly states: “There were no greater festival days for Israel like Chamisha-Asar (15) B’Av and Yom Kippur.”

The truth is that the joy actually begins on Tisha B’Av itself – after midday – because that’s when the Moshiach of Israel was born … However, the completion and full revelation of this joy comes on Tu B’Av.

This parallels what we find regarding the reason for the holiday of 15 Av – “when those destined to die in the desert ceased to die.” The truth is that the decree already ended on Tisha B’Av, but they were uncertain since “perhaps they had miscalculated the day of the month, until they saw the full moon, and then they knew that the decree had ended.”

…[I.e.,] On 15 Av it becomes clarified that all the decrees and undesirable events have already ended, and the time has come to leave the “wilderness of the nations” and enter Eretz Yisrael through the true and complete Geula [but the decree already ended on Tisha B’Av itself!.

(Sicha of 20 Menachem Av 5711)

3. When Crying is Useless

[After a lengthy explanation on why Yosef cried over Binyamin’s shoulders for the Beis HaMikdash in the latter’s portion and vice versa, the Rebbe remarked:]

Why do we cry over our fellow’s Mikdash rather than our own?

Regarding the destruction of one’s personal Beis HaMikdash, crying to soothe one’s spirit has no place. Instead, we must work to repair and rebuild it. (In fact, crying can weaken the service by making one think he’s already fulfilled his obligation through tears.)

This is why Yaakov didn’t cry at all (unlike Yosef, who cried on Yaakov’s neck over the Beis HaMikdash’s destruction). Instead, Yaakov recited Shema. Since Yaakov is the father of all Israel, and [both]the Mishkan and Mikdash belong to his portion, he engaged in their repair and rebuilding through Krias Shema, which counts as offering a korban – the essence of the Beis HaMikdash. From this we understand that the goal isn’t crying, but rather working on our personal Mikdash and personal Geula. Through this we bring about the general Geula and the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash.

Therefore, even on Tisha B’Av, there were certain hours when the conduct in Lubavitch included an element of joy.

(Sicha of Parshas Vayigash, 7 Teves 5725)

4. Sefer Haminhagim For Tisha B’Av

[The “certain hours with an element of joy” may be a reference to what is brought in Sefer HaMinhagim from the Rebbe Rayatz’s remarks at the close of Tishah B’Av (nidche) 5701:]

The Tzemach Tzedek, who used to refer to the Rebbe [Reb Yisroel] of Ruzhin as “the holy Ruzhiner,” once related: “The holy Ruzhiner would not brook any melancholy nor even bitterness — with the result that his Chassidim became playful.

One Tisha B’Av they occupied themselves for a while tossing burrs (“berelach”) at each other. They then decided to clamber on to the roof of the Beis Medrash, and to lower a noose over the entrance. Whoever walked in the door could then be lassoed and promptly hoisted onto the roof. The prank succeeded until, sure enough, who should walk in but — their Rebbe, the Ruzhiner. From up there it was hard to tell one hat from another, and only when the tzaddik was halfway up did they identify him.

“When they had lowered him to the ground he exclaimed: ‘Master of the Universe! If Your children do not observe Your Yom-Tov, then take it away from them!’”

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Beis Moshiach magazine can be obtained in stores around Crown Heights. To purchase a subscription, please go to: bmoshiach.org

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