Welcome back to NachDailly. Today we begin the 1st perek of Megilas Eicha.

Although the Megilah deals with the mourning and tragic events of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash and the desolation of Yerushlayim, its point is not to make us feel forlorn, discouraged, or hopeless of Geula, Redemption, and God’s exact Hashgacha Pratis, Divine Providence.

We need to be able to contrast this to what we now see happening in Eretz Yisrael. Boruch Hashem the streets are again filled with people, hustling and bustling with everyday life, buildings going up everywhere! The picture we see nowadays is vastly different than the one we’re going to be learning about in Megilas Eicha. While that was a time of destruction, we are now witnessing the process of Geula.

Someone recently told me that the new train from Ben-Gurion Airport to Yerushalayim will take less than 25 minutes! When Mashiach ben Dovid reveals himself, many people will need to get to Yerushalayim with no traffic! This is none other than Hashem’s hand preparing the world and Eretz Yisrael for the final and ultimate redemption! May we merit seeing the construction of the 3rd Beis Hamikdash with our very own eyes!

With this in mind, we now begin Megilas Eicha.

It opens with the words, “Eicha yashva vadad, ha’ir rabasi am hay’sa k’almana, rabasi vagoyim sarasi bam’idinos hay’sa lamas – Oh how she sits in solitude! The city that teemed with people has become like a widow. She that was great among the nations, the princess among provinces, has become a tributary.

Yerushalayim is compared to a widow. This speaks to the heart of our relationship with Eretz Yisrael. It’s not just another country for us to live in, or a nice place to visit. We actually have a relationship to the Land itself, like a husband and wife that need each other. We need Eretz Yisrael and she longs for us to return.

As Rav Kook explains (in Orot), our nation’s entire spiritual and physical existence in exile is rooted in and dependent on the happenings of Eretz Yisrael. If not for Eretz Yisrael we would not be successful elsewhere, as we are all connected to the Land.

From verses 2 until 5, the Prophet describes how “she weeps bitterly at night and her cheek is filled with tears.” She has been betrayed by all her lovers with no one to comfort her.

The remnant of Am Yisrael that was still left in Eretz Yisrael has been exiled. Keep in mind that the rest of the 10 tribes located there and in the Shomoron had been exiled many years beforehand. The last remnant of Jews was now exiled as well.

Yirmiya described the narrow streets devoid of people and celebration. Her enemies have now become her masters; those who hated Yerushalayim and God are now its rulers.

Verse 6 says, “All splendor has gone from the congregation of Tzion.” The Ibn Ezra explains that Tzion lost its sovereignty when it switched allegiance to another nation.

The Alshich explains that this refers to the Divine Presence that left when the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed.

Yirmiya continues to lament that she has become defiled, held in contempt, and is deteriorating with no one to comfort her. In verse 9, Yirmiya turns his attention to the human suffering, and asks Hashem to see his pain! Nevuchadnetsar looted the Beis Hamikdash and took all of the valuables. The people in the city are starving. Hashem, see the devastation!

In verse 14, the land calls out, “He sent fire into my bones and crushed them!”

Verse 16 says, “Al eileh ani bochiyah, aini aini yorda mayim, ki rachak mimeni menachem meishiv nafshi – Over these things I weep. My eyes, my eyes flow with tears, for the One Who might comfort me and revive my soul is far from me.”

The Ohr Chayim explains in his commentary, Palgei Mayim on Eicha, that Yirmiya cried so much that people began to call him “Bochiyah –crier.” Lamenting that “ki rachok mimeni Menachem – comfort is far from him” refers to Mashiach who is called Menachem.

This can also be read as a remez, hint, that Menachem meishiv nafshi – the one named Menachem is going to revive my soul, referring to Mashiach who will bring Techiyas Hameisim, the revival of the dead.

From verses 17 until the end of the perek, Yirmiya continues to bemoan the destruction and his personal pain.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily as we continue to connect to Eretz Yisrael and work on our longing for the Geula. Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.