"אלה אזכרה ונפשי עלי אשפכה... לעשרה הרוגי מלוכה"
“These I recall and my soul overflows with sorrow for the ten martyrs who were put to death by the government.”

QUESTION: On Yom Kippur when the avodah — order of service — in the Beit Hamikdash is discussed, there is a prayer of “Eilah Ezkarah” — “These I recall” — about the asarah harugei malchut — the ten Sages martyred by the Roman government. Also, in the Kinot — Lamentations said on Tishah B’Av — we recite Arzei Halevanon — Cedars of Lebanon — about the ten martyred Sages.

Why are these martyred Sages mentioned on Yom Kippur and Tishah B’Av?

ANSWER: The juxtaposing of Miriam’s death with the red heifer teaches us that just as karbanot — offerings — bring atonement for the Jewish people, so does the death of tzaddikim — righteous people (Bamidbar 21:1, Rashi).

The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 18b) says that the fast day of the seventh month, which was established because Gedalyah (the appointed governor by Nebuchadnezzar over the remaining Jewish settlement in Eretz Yisrael following the destruction of the First Temple) was assassinated, is listed in Scripture together with the fast days commemorating the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash (Zechariah 8:19) because the death of the righteous is equivalent to the burning of Hashem’s house.

Hence, on Yom Kippur — the Day of Atonement — when the avodah which brought atonement is recited, the ten martyred Sages are mentioned, since their passing is a source of atonement for the Jewish people. Also on Tishah B’Av, when we mourn the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, the ten martyred Sages are also mentioned since their death is equivalent to the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.

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In the liturgy we are told that “Rabbi Yishmael purified himself and ascended to the heavenly heights and inquired of the angel clothed in white [about the martyrdom of the Sages]. The angel told him, ‘Kablu aleichem — take it upon yourself — righteous, beloved Sages, for I have heard from behind the Curtain that this decree has been imposed upon you. [Rabbi Yishmael] descended and informed his colleagues of the word of G‑d.’ ”

In view of the above, that their death was like an offering in the Beit Hamikdash, it is understood why the angel said to Rabbi Yishmael “Kablu aleichem” — “take it upon yourself”: According to halachah, for an offering to be qualified it must be brought “liretzono” — “voluntarily” — uncoerced and with the willingness of the owner (see Vayikra 1:3).

(שמעתי מהרב שלום גרשון שי' גינצבורג בשם הגרי"ד הלוי ז"ל סאלאווייטשיק מבוסטון)