[Avodah] Mourning for the Temple or repenting?

[Daniel Eidensohn]

I have an elementary question. Is the  basis of our activities during 
the three weeks -  mourning (aveilus) for the Temple?

If it is then is it required that we feel sad about the loss of the 
Temple? In the 8th volume of the Igros Moshe OH 37.2 page 113 he deals 
with the issue of ripping one's garment on Friday afternoon after 
chatzos. In the course of his discussion he says, There is absolutely no 
mitzva to be upset about the death of someone. This is stated clearly by 
Rashi in Kesubos (6b)...And surely there is absolutely no mitzva to 
increase one's suffering or even to cause one self to feel suffering..." 
He asserts that aveilus is a collection of activities to show respect 
for the departed but they are all external actions that do not require 
feelings of sadness. I spoke recently with Rav Meisleman and he 
confirmed as elementary that mourning is external activities and does 
not require feelings of sadness. It  would seem that  in fact the 
underlying concept to the three weeks is more of doing teshuva than 
mourning. For example the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (#121) states, "It is a 
positive commandment from the prophets to fast on the days on which 
tragedy happened to our ancestors. The purpose of the fast is in order 
to arouse our hearts to focus on the path of repentance...

The reason I am mentioning this is I can't remember a single derasha 
about the 3 weeks that didn't involve the need to be upset about the 
loss of the Temple or to be upset that we weren't upset about the loss. 
If it is aveilus then in fact there is no requirement to feel sad. If it 
is a method of motivating teshuva than feeling upset is appropriate. The 
latter might help explain the inherently  optional status of fasting - 
except in a time of hardhsip - Rosh HaShanna 18b. It might also provide 
a key to understanding why R' Yehuda HaNasi wanted to do away with the 
17th of Tammuz and perhaps Tisha B'Av itself - Megilla 5b.

Daniel Eidensohn