This period of bein hazmanim, when Torah study is decreased alongside with a lessening of merit, is a dangerous one, as the Rosh Hayeshiva HaRav Edelstein warned in his letter. These are times when the Measure of Judgment was activated and Yerushalayim raised its wail over the loss of members of the finest families as sacrifices for the public, bikrovai Ekodesh, times when tragic misfortunes befall the Jewish people.
We asked the Mashgiach, HaRav Don Segal, what Heaven seeks to arouse in us in these troubled times. We begged him to show us how to knock upon the chambers of the heart and hear words to show us the proper way so that we can fortify ourselves spiritually in light of the terrible misfortunes and tragedies which claimed the lives of the elite sons and daughters of the Torah world.
This is what he replied:
Our hearts are shattered, every eye weeps and every soul pains over the harsh trials which we experienced during these days. Familiar are the words of the Rambam that if, G-d forbid, we are not shaken up from the troubles which assail us and regard them as chance, we are realizing the words of the Torah, "If you walk with Me with keri, happenstance, I shall walk with you with a vengeance of keri."
I am pained to be saying this, and I know that I am not worthy to say it, but since this involves the lives of our people, even the weak one must say that he is strong.
The gemara in Taanis (31) states, 'Rabbi Eliezer Hagodol says: From the fifteenth of Av and on, the sun's strength begins to wane and they stopped chopping wood for the mizbeiach because it would not dry sufficiently. Rav Menashia said: They referred to it as the day of breaking the scythe. From this day onward, whoever adds [time for Torah study] should do so, and whoever refrains, shall die. Rav Yosef asks: What is the meaning of 'shall die'? He says: He hastens his time of death. Rashi comments: From here on, from the fifteenth of Av, when the nights are longer than the days, he should increase his study time for this will increase his life. But if he does not increase it, that is, to study more at night, he will die prematurely.
We can conclude that whoever increases his Torah study during this period will have his life expectancy extended, and if he does not increase his study during these days when they stopped chopping wood for the Mikdash and increased their Torah study, he will have his life expectancy shortened and will be buried by his mother R"l.
We see from sources of Chazal that precisely during this period, we are obligated to increase Torah study and not, chas vesholom, do the opposite. Furthermore, if we close the yeshivos, not only are we guilty of bitul Torah, but we are showing, as it were, that we do not believe these words of Chazal, for it is explicitly stated that if one does not increase his Torah study, he will die prematurely and be buried by his mother. If an individual does so, this applies to him but if the public does it, it is as if we collectively do not believe in these holy words of Chazal. It is terrible to even contemplate this.
Regretfully, each time that bein hazmanim rolls around, we are have troubles. I remember one year when Haifa was shelled. The situation was so severe that many fled the city. I was together with HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman and he said immediately, "I am certain that when this week is over, the shelling will also pass."
Whoever heard this statement couldn't understand it. Was it prophecy? At the time, it seemed like a full war was brewing which would not be a matter of mere days. And he was asked upon what he based his statement.
He replied simply that at the end of the week, yeshiva students would be returning to their study and the merit of their Torah would stand by to end the threat of war. And so it was.
From my contact with the Steipler when I was young, I learned that the origin of the bein hazmanim in Av is not founded in harerei kodesh. So therefore it is very important for us to increase Torah study in this time when the gemara says it should be increased.
So certainly there should be chizuk and an increase in Torah, each according to his ability, because we need the Torah and the merits. May Hashem save us from all evil decrees and may the holy yeshivas continue to flourish and blossom. And may it be fulfilled in us that the Guardian of Israel will not slumber and may we soon merit the Geulah Sheleimoh. Amen.
