Thought for the Day: We Don’t Greet Each Other on Tisha b’Av in Order to Learn How to Properly Greet People
We all know that the diaspora thought which we are currently suffering is due, at its core, to שנאת חינם/baseless hatred. We all know, as well, that the way out of this stifling, prolonged diaspora is אהבת חינם/baseless love for each Jew. Wouldn't you think that we should go out of our way to greet each and every Jew we see with enthusiasm? Especially to a Jew who doesn't know about Tisha b'Av. I mean, wouldn't that seem to be a better idea than with the downcast eyes and weak, "Hi... but we don't really greet each other on Tisha b'Av", that halacha requires? A partial answer might be similar to the answer I received many years ago when I first learned about Tisha b'Av. I wanted to know if I could learn Mesillas Yesharim on Tisha b'Av. After all, I reasoned, what better day for character improvement than on Tisha b'Av itself? I was told that no, I could not learn Mesilas Yesharim because it is full of p'sukim and teachings from Chazal; ...