The Baseless Hatred Mystery Revealed
Our Chachamim z"l tell us that the First Bet Hamikdash was destroyed because of three sins: Avodah Zarah/Idolatry, Shefichat Damim/Murder, and Arayot/Adultery, but the second Temple only one sin - sinat chinam, the baseless hatred.
Each of the sins is bad in its own right, but it took three sins to bring down the First Temple and only one to bring down the Second. Why? Why only one? What is so destructive and bad about it?
Let's dive into Sinat Chinam, cause the reasons for the destruction of the First Temple are self-explanatory.
So what is Sinat Chinam? It is Baseless Hatred or Hate that is coming from a place of evil. It's a wish to see another's demise or failure, and when you are in that hating mode, you observe and translate anything that person does negatively with no benefit of the doubt.
When you hate, you always pursue the harm of another. You speak of him in a harmful way, make up stories to get more people on your side to believe the lies, and turn him into an enemy of theirs. You speak and spread lashon hara—evil speech —because you want others to see him in a bad light. You may say things to his spouse that will leave the family with no peace and eventually cause them to fall apart. You accuse him and his children, so it should affect their shidduchim/marriage prospects. You make sure his reputation is ruined in his community and places of business. You make sure your family and the people around him give him the cold shoulder so he feels unwanted and unbelonged.
All of this is done stealthily, with few people involved in the community or many across many communities. In our times, all of the above can be accomplished with just a few clicks on a computer or a phone.
Because of this ugly behavior, of the few or the many, Hashem has destroyed the Second Temple. So if the Temple is destroyed, and it may seem like nothing is at stake today, what do we have to lose this time around?
Chachamim tell us that when a new family is born, the chatan and kallah are on their way to build something enormously holy - their Own Bet Hamikdash, where each room of their house resembles the original Temple. The bedroom is like the Holy of Holies, the living room table is like a Mizbeach where we cater to the guests and consume our earthly sacrifices. The kitchen is where it's all prepared according to the strict laws of kashrut.
Our houses and shuls are small Batey Mikdashim. This is where Shechina rests, where the mitzvot are done, and where kedusha or holiness resides.
Hashem wants peace and unity among people in the community or between communities, where people help each other, are happy for each other, see good in each other, and feel no jealousy or hate. Where they want others to have better houses, cars, vacations, respect, and accessories, this is what Hashem expects from his people.
The Second Temple was destroyed because of hate, the most ugly trait that consumes many communities and people, no matter their religious backgrounds. The solution to it is Achavat Chinam—Baseless Love. Otherwise, our small Batey Mikdashim are at stake.
The Sages taught, "Any generation in which the Temple is not built, it is as if it had been destroyed in their times" (Yerushalmi, Yoma 1a).
Our job is to change for the better, to do good to others, more of baseless love and no hate and animosity towards others - be it in their own community or outside of it, better ourselves in our servitude to Hashem, and earn the merit to see Moshiach and the Third Beit Hamikdash rebuilt in our days. Amen.
Shmuel Katanov
