Shabbat Chazon

Shabbat Chazon is in the midst of the Three Weeks, when we lament the Holy Temple's destruction and our subsequent exile.

Yet on this Shabbat, the Shabbat before the ninth of Av, Tisha B'Av, during the most serious time we celebrate Shabbat Chazon, literally "the Shabbat of vision". It is the day on which every Jew is afforded a spiritual glimpse, a vision, of the Third and Eternal Holy Temple, an edifice that will be infinitely superior to the two Holy Temples that preceded it.

This "vision" cannot be seen by our physical eyes, but it is perceived by our Jewish soul. The haftorah that we read on Shabbat Chazon warns of all the dire consequences to befall the Jewish people, but even as we listen, we simultaneously feel hope for and anticipation of the Messianic era.

We experience a combination of despair and joy of mourning and of faith.

The Torah provides us with a complete framework of laws that enables us to feel these two conflicting emotions. On the one hand, we engage in many practices "as a remembrance of the destruction." On the other hand, we are expected to await Moshiach's coming joyfully every day.

G-d wants us to feel the pain of the exile but we must never make peace with it, surrendering to our present condition. But G-d forbid that we should despair! Our joy is genuine in anticipation of the imminent Redemption. The Rebbe has told us that Moshiach is so close that we can sense his very presence. Is that not a reason to rejoice?
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Shabbat Shalom!