As we learned, Rabbi Yitzhak said: What is meant by the verse, "On the mountains I will take up weeping and wailing"? (Jeremiah 9:9) These referred to are the towering mountains of the worlds. And who are these lofty mountains? They are "the precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold." And now they are descending into exile with grindstones on their necks and their hands tied behind them. And when they arrived in the exile of Babylon, they thought that they would cease to exist because G‑d had forsaken them and would no longer watch over them.

We learned: Rabbi Shimon said that at that moment, G‑d summoned all His company, all the chariots and camps and His officers and all the hosts of heaven and said to them: 'What are you doing here? My beloved children are in the exile of Babylon and you are here! Arise, all of you, descend to Babylon and I with you.' This is the meaning of: "Thus says G‑d, 'For your sake I have sent to Babylon'" (Isaiah 43:14) refers to G‑d. "And will bring down all of them as fugitives...": these are all the supernal Chariots and Camps.

When they descended to Babylon, the heavens opened, and the holy spirit of prophecy rested on Ezekiel. And he saw whatever he saw and said to Israel: 'Behold your Master is here and all the Hosts of heaven and the Chariots that have come to dwell with you.' They did not believe him until he was obliged to reveal all that he saw - 'I saw thus, and I saw thus...' and if he revealed more, whatever he revealed was altogether necessary. As soon as Israel saw this, they rejoiced. And when they heard the words from Ezekiel's mouth, they no longer feared their exile at all because they knew that G‑d would not abandon them. And everything that he (Ezekiel) revealed, he revealed with permission (from Heaven).

BeRahamim LeHayyim: What does this mean to you, and why is it revealed to you now?

Even during these darker days of the 3 Weeks of Mourning we too can attain a glimpse of the redemption. On Shabbat Chazon (July 28th, 2012), we are told that we also can see and taste the soon-to come Mashiach! The joy for us during this time where we are to reduce with joy is the knowledge that G‑d and His Divine Presence are with us, always! We can take comfort in this knowledge. And thus any mourning we feel can be with the concomitant understanding that those who mourn the loss of the old will be present for the gain of the new.

Use this time to act in a Messianic capacity: More love, More other, less self, less judgment. That is the way we will build the Third Temple, speedily in our days, Amen!

Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries
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