<div dir="ltr">In the famous gemara at the very end of makkot, R. Akiva and the rabbis are walking near<div>har habayit and see a fox. The rabbis cry and R. Akiva laughs</div><div>R. Akiva asks why are they crying - a strange question</div>
<div>They ask why he is laughing</div><div>The rabbis give the obvious answer that they are crying over the destroyed Temple</div><div>R. Akiva answer that he is laughing because of the connection of 2 prophecies guarantees that there will be a salvation</div>
<div><br></div><div>Questions - Why does R. Akiva ask why they are crying</div><div>More important what is R. Akiva's answer. How does the fact that G-d will bring salvation in 2000 years bring nechama over the destroyed bet hamikdash they witness with their eyes</div>
<div><br></div><div>--------------------------------</div><div>On a different question R. Nebenzahl asks how a Jew in EY can react to the kinah "Zion Ha-Li Tishali" vy Rihal when when is living in a rebuilt EY.</div>
<div>He answers that Jews can build beautiful gardens or produce hi-tech companies anywhere in the world. The nature in EY is not nicer than the great mountains and waterfalls in other countries.</div><div>What is different in EY is the Torah of EY and that EY is under the direct guidance of Hashem.</div>
<div>We still mourn that we have not reached the appropriate level of spirituality in Israel in spite of all the economic progress<br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><font color="#000099" face="'comic sans ms', sans-serif">Eli Turkel</font></div>
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