This week's email letter I sent off to the community!

Shalom again,

This past week I discovered what real fasting feels like. I experienced tisha B'av like I've never felt it before.

I always take fast days very easily, spending the day in bed, reading and resting for the duration of the fast. Not using energy eases the potentially difficult experience.

However this year G-d seemed to have other plans in store for me.

While the fast began on Monday evening and all seemed smooth - a half hour into it, my life was turned upside down. A tourist happened to get himself in some trouble here in Cabo and I was given the opportunity and Mitzvah to help out, which I gladly accepted.

Helping out however was not easy. I was up and about well past midnight, and then the entire day of Tisha B'av I also ran around town to put things in order. 95 degrees and all of it was spent out in the sun without putting food or drink in my mouth... It was difficult, but thank G-d all worked out in the end and everyone is safe and sound.

***

Interestingly, after the sadness and mourning that the Jewish people go through every year at this time, right afterwards come a real happy day...

This coming Monday is the 15th day of Av, known as Tu B'av. The Rabbi's tell us that there was not a greater holiday in Israel than the 15th day of Av.

It is traditionally known as the "Jewish valentines day", but this holiday actually dates back thousands of years. In fact, in Temple times, on the 15th day of Av, the single girls would come together in the vineyards and dance... The eligible bachelor's would come and choose their brides and future wives. Many a marriage were celebrated on that day every year, thus (one of the reasons for) the excitement and happiness.

It is certainly not for no reason that a universal day of love for our nation follows directly after a day of destruction and mourning.

The message is clear; Love begins to blossom to its fullest only after darkness. In any relationship, as long as everything is sunny and fresh, real love cannot be experienced by both parties. G-d created this incredible gift of love and programmed it in such a way, that it comes out and is almost tangibly felt only when one is crawling through a dark and challenging time... When we cannot possibly appreciate our life anymore, it is precisely there that we uncover the amazing feeling of love.

The destruction of our Temple and our plunge into this dark and bitter exile is no different. It is only here that we can discover and expose our deep rooted love for G-d and our everlasting commitment to him.

This, Chassidut teaches us is actually the inner reason for our exile. G-d and his chosen nation can only encounter 'true love' when there are bumps in the road.

We have already gone through 2000 years of suffering and dark times. Let us get out of this mess and be reunited with G-d once again in love, harmony and absolute commitment to each other.

But, we must open our eyes and hearts and love him!!

(PS - Loving G-d means that emotions are not enough. We must actively pursue him and do what he desires from us.)

Shabbat Shalom and may we find the ultimate comfort this Shabbat with the speedy arrival of Mashiach and our long awaited redemption!

Benny