3 Eichas – Harav Yisroel Belsky zt”l

Rebbe u’mori, Harav Yisroel Belsky zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaas and one of the foremost poskim in the world, discussed the meaning of eichah in his sefer Einei Yisroel, published in 2009. Below is an adaptation of his holy words.

The Medrash (Eichah Rabbah, 1:1) connects the expression “eichah” (literally translated “how?) which begins the eponomous Megilah read on Tisha Ba’av with both Moshe Rabbeinu’s question to Klal Yisroel in Parshas Devorim, when he asked “how is it that I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your disputes?” and the rebuke of navi Yeshayah, where he exclaims (Yeshaya 1:21) “How (Eichah) has Yerushalayim become a harlot?”

The medrash compares the three instances of Eichah to a woman who had three benefactors. The first saw her in complacency (Moshe’s rebuke to Klal Yisroel), the second saw her impulsive (Yeshayah) and the last saw her disgraced (Yirmiyahu).

In all three instances, Rav Belsky explains that the neviim were expressing shock and dismay.

Moshe was referring to the Yidden’s eager acceptance of Yisro’s judicial system plan, which would have Moshe judging only difficult cases that the judges couldn’t understand. Even though it was proper, and Hashem approved of it, Moshe was surprised that the Yidden would respond so lightly to him not being in their constant presence. How could they not yearn for the direct guidance of Da’as Torah?

Chazal say that there was something darker as well; some among them believed that while they wouldn’t dream of bribing Moshe, they might be able to sway the other judges in their favor.

Moshe was expressing his dismay over their lack of enthusiasm for justice, a basic demand of the Torah and one of the pillars of the world, as well as the lack of pursuit of Da’as Torah.

In Yeshayah’s time, the sins of Klal Yisroel were reaching a fever pitch, the extent of which filled him with shock and dread.

And for Yirmiyahu, that pain was amplified exponentially by the actual churban.

Says Rav Belsky, the Eichah of Yeshaya and Yirmiyahu stemmed from the same problem that Moshe was bemoaning; the people not seeking justice and Da’as Torah.

Hashem decreed that the true understanding of Torah be transmitted orally. Even when the Mishnah, Gemara and Medrashim were written, their interpretation was concealed, and was left to the Gedolei Yisroel of every generation to explain to us. Part of the reason for this was to force us to attach ourselves to Da’as Torah, and not to live by our own machinations. Our Chachamim, free of the biases and gashmius that contort truth, are conduits through which the D’var Hashem is channeled. By cleaving to Gedolei Yisroel, we fulfill the mitzvah of  “uvo sidbak,”(Devorim 10:20), to cling to Hashem, since they show us the ways of Hashem and His chochma.

May we be zocheh to attach ourselves to the Gedolei Hador and see the speedy rebuilding of Yerushalayim with the Geulah Shlaima.