Q. Why do we constantly mourn over the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago? Does the lack of a Holy Temple leave any of us feeling a gaping hole in our lives?
A. Tisha b'Av is our national day of mourning when we pause to reflect on all the pogroms, crusades, inquisitions and holocausts which have dogged our nation for the past 2,000 years. Nonetheless it is specifically observed on the date when the Holy Temples were destroyed, and the Temples are the principal focus of this day's mourning. It is clear that our suffering is intimately associated with the absence of the Temple.
The Talmud states referring to the destruction of the Temple: “What is there for a father who has exiled his son? And woe to children who have been exiled from their father's table!"
A parent/child relationship is more than just a blood relation. The relationship must be expressed through respect, love and care. When the children no longer have an open, warm relationship with the parents, the child is missing something fundamental. While the child may be successful in many parts of life, the dysfunctional family and the lack of a stable home will never allow the child to truly be him/herself.
G‑d is our father, and we are His children. Now, that we are exiled from our land and G‑d’s home is in ruins, we are part of a dysfunctional family. We have been expelled from our Father's home. We don't feel or see G‑d's love for us, and we don't really feel like His children. We study His Torah and follow His commandments, and we are told that by doing so we connect with Him, but we can be hard for us to feel like we are in a relationship.
This is certainly not the way the relationship should be, and this wasn't always the case. There was a time when we were coddled by our Father's embrace. His love for us manifested itself in many forms: miracles, prophets, abundant blessings and a land flowing with milk and honey. And at the crux of our relationship was the Holy Temple, G‑d's home where He literally dwelt amongst His people, where His presence was tangible. All the suffering which has been our lot since the day the Temple was destroyed is a result of our exiled state. When the king's son resides in the palace, when the king's love for the prince is on open display, the child is insulated against the designs of all his enemies. But when the child is expelled, the enemies pounce.
This is why we mourn the destruction of the Temples.
And we believe with perfect faith that the day is near when we will be returned to our Father's home, and once again be smothered by His love.