The Three Traits of Bein HaMetzarim: Humility, Awe, and Faith — The Roots for Building the Temple

During the days of Bein HaMetzarim, in which we mourn the destruction of the Temple, our teacher Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a teaches that this is specifically the time to work on three fundamental traits — humility, awe, and faith. They are the roots from which everything grows, and in the merit of these, we will merit the building of the Holy Temple.

Three Roots for the Tree

In order to merit the complete "tree" of serving Hashem, a person needs three roots: humility, awe, and faith. Without these three roots, the tree has nothing to stand on, and it is impossible to reach the truth. And specifically during the days of Bein HaMetzarim — the days when we weep over what was lost — we are required to work and attain these three traits.

Humility — The Root of Leah

The first trait is humility. Our matriarch Leah is the aspect of humility — "What awe made a crown for its head, humility made a heel for its shoe." Through lowliness and self-nullification, a person becomes a vessel to receive the light. The more a person diminishes himself, the more he becomes a greater chariot for the Shechinah (Divine Presence), and thus he builds the place of the Temple within himself.

Awe — The Root of Rachel

The second trait is awe. Our matriarch Rachel is the aspect of awe. Without the awe of Heaven, there is no existence for Torah or for prayer; awe is what guards a person and sustains him. And the spiritual work of Bein HaMetzarim is to connect these two aspects — the humility of Leah with the awe of Rachel — because specifically from this connection, the Holy Temple is built.

Faith — The Third Root

And above all — faith. A person's faith in Hashem is tested through praying with intention: when a person truly believes that Hashem listens and hears every prayer, then his prayer becomes a true prayer. The three roots — humility, awe, and faith — are the foundation upon which everything is built, and in the merit of working on them during these days, we will merit that the Holy Temple be built speedily in our days.

From a lesson by our teacher Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, Parashat Devarim 5766.