Welcome back to NachDaily, with the 2nd perek of Eicha. Its main theme is the wonder of how God poured His wrath out on Tziyon and the devastation which took place.

The perek opens with the words “Eicha ya’iv b’apo, Adonai es bas Tziyon hishlich m’shamayim eretz tiferes Yisrael, v’lo zachar hadom raglav b’yom apo -Oh how God has beclouded the congregation of Tziyon in His anger! He has cast down from heaven and earth the glory of Israel. He did not remember His footstool on the day of His wrath.”

The perek opens with the same word as the name of the sefer, “Eichah – How?” How could we have suffered so much?

Rebbe Nachman in Lukutai Maharan, Tinyana Lesson 12, explains that Hashem’s kavod, glory, can be found even in the most depraved and decadent places. In fact, the darkest places contain the most hidden, potent and concealed Kedusha. These places must contain an iota of Kedusha, or else they wouldn’t be able to exist. The negative forces actually yonek, nurse and feed off, the Kedusha that’s found there.

When a person searches out God in these places, asking, “Ayeh Mekom Kevodo? Where is Your glory, Your place of Kedusha here? Hashem, where are you in this?” The question itself has the ability to reveal the hidden, concealed, and powerful piece of Kedusha contained in that space, turning your yeridah into an aliyah, a descent into an ascent.

Therefore, no matter where we find ourselves in life, no matter what we’ve done or how far we feel from God, we can search Him out and transform the situation by revealing Him in it.

It can be said that the same is happening with Eicha, which contains the letters asking “Ayeh? Where are You?” Yirmiya is trying to reveal Hashem’s concealed Kedusha which is found amidst the destruction and devastation.

Moving on, Yirmiya laments that Hashem, burning with anger slew Yerushalyim as if it were an enemy, consuming it with fire on all sides. He devoured and devastated all of her places and uprooted His nation. He destroyed His meeting place and burned with fury.

Hashem essentially withdrew His presence, shattered His home, and our nation was exiled.

In verse 11 Yirmiya shares his feelings lamenting, “My eyes are worn out with tears. My innards spill out on the ground over the ruin of my people, at the fainting of babes and nursing infants in the streets of the city.”

This describes the nation’s condition from the siege on Yerushalayim at that time. Children and babies were literally dying of starvation.

Verse 19 says, “Kumi roni valayla l’rosh ashmuros shifchi chamayim libeich nochach p’nei Hashem. Arise, pray aloud in the night, at the beginning of the watches. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of God.”

This is a call to all of us to pour out our hearts to God in our own words during the night, when things are the darkest and most difficult. Speak to God as you would to a friend. Tell Him everything, no matter how small or large.

From verses 20 through 22, which end the perek, the pessukim describe the horror of women eating their babies to sustain themselves. On that day, no-one escaped the wrath of God.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, when we’ll continue connecting to Eretz Yisrael.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.