On Sadness and Joy

Tisha Biav is the saddest day of the Jewish year. Yet, as a child, the saddest point of the year was the night after Thisha Biav. 

I would watch my father break his fast and wonder what changed? Why is the mourning over? Was the temple rebuilt?

This was in stark contrast to the joy that we all felt on Motzay Yom Kippur. As we sang and watched the Rebbe during Napoleon's march the awe of Yom kipput was transformed to intense joy. But after Tisha Biav, there was no reason to celebrate.

Then Shabbaos Nachamu would come around and then we would go to the Avraham Fried concert to celebrate the season. But it always felt strange to me, after all why and how are we comforted of the reality on the ground did not change since Tisha Biav?

Last week when I read what I think us the most powerful Mammar in Lekutey Toarh - the Mammar for Parshas Divarim - I thought I may have the answer. 

The Alter Rebbe explains that the verse “You shall love your G-d with your whole heart” refers - not to the conventional interpretation which is with both your good and evil inclinations, but - with both parts of your heart, with your joy and with your sadness. For if you are joyous because of material success and sad because of material lose then you don’t really love Hashem. “With all your heart” means that you are happy because you are close to Hashem and you feel sad when you feel far from Hashem.

- By the way, this one teaching includes, in my opinion, everything that Chasidus asks of a person - 

Perhaps this is the comfort. We are comforted on Shabbos Nachamu because we feel close to Hashem trough reading the Haftorah which describes his great love to us. And when we feel his love - especially after the destruction - we can fins comfort and joy amidst tjhe destruction around us. And may the Joy propel us to the day when there will no longer be ant destruction - with the coming of Moshiach.