Four days a year Jews fast and mourn, commemorating various historical events concerning the destruction of the Holy Temple. The 17^thof Tamuz is one of the four days, and it began a three week period of limited mourning that climaxes with Tisha B'Av, the day of the destruction of both Holy Temples. These four days of fasting are found in the prophet Zechariah. Consistent with Judaism's optimism, the biblical references about the four fast days, including Tisha B'Av, are not cited as directives to fast and mourn.

Instead, these fast days are stated in a positive context, looking to the Messianic future, when these four fast days will become days of celebration. "The fast of the 4th month (17^th of Tamuz), the fast of the 5^th month (Tisha B'Av), the fast of the 7^th month (Tzom Gedaliah) and the fast of the 10^th month (Asarah B'Tevet) will become days of joy and happiness, holidays of redemption, feasts and celebrations for the House of Yehudah." (Zechariah 8:19) Thus, Tisha B'Av was destined to be part of our Halachic tradition but not as a day of eternal mourning. Rather, Tisha B'Av is a temporary day of mourning, until it becomes a permanent day of joy in the Messianic Era. Therefore, in Megillat Eichah (1:15 and 2:22), Tisha B'Av is called a MOED (a Festival). That is why we do not say Tahanun and Selihot on Tisha B'Av (Shulchan Aruch 559:4). What are the signs of the approaching Messianic Era? The Talmud states that the Jews, returning from exile, and the turning of the Land of Israel green is the key sign for the beginning of the Final Redemption.

"There is no more clear sign than when the Land of Israel gives its produce abundantly, then the end of the exile is near."(Rashi, Sanhedrin 98b) Rav Shalom Gold says that if you want to feel G-d's Presence, then go to the Kotel. If you want to see G-d's Presence, then go to Shuk Machane Yehudah where you will see a unique and dazzling display of luscious and delicious fruits and vegetables.

For almost two thousand years, our Holy Land rejected all would be conquerors and remained desolate. The Sifri explains that the Torah's curse of the Holy Land during our long exile, "I (G-d) will make the Holy Land desolate"(Parshat Bechukotai), is actually a blessing in disguise. This is because we didn't have to worry that when we went into exile that our enemies would settle in our land. Therefore, the greening of Israel (Shuk Machane Yehudah) is a clear signal that G-d's decree of desolation for the land is over and the Final Redemption is near. The Land of Israel had to go into "hibernation", waiting for us, her children to return from exile.

The prophet Yirmiyahu foresaw the coming, Final Redemption of the Messianic Era and its celebration as being an even greater event than the Exodus from Egypt. "Days are coming, says G-d, when it will no longer be said, 'As G-d lives Who took Israel out of Egypt, but rather, 'As G-d lives, Who took Israel out from all the lands where G-d dispersed them. "(Yirmiyahu 16:14-15). According to Rabbi Mordecai Eliyahu, Zatzal and the Rebbe of Chabad, Zatzal, we are presently in the dawn of the Messianic Era. If Moshiach should arrive before Tisha B'Av, then we will be feasting and celebrating on Tisha B'Av, instead of fasting and mourning.

The Talmud tells us that when the Holy Temple was set on fire on Tisha B'Av, the Kohanim ascended to the the Temple roof and taking the keys of the Temple, threw them towards Heaven. They cried, "Oh, G-d, we were not worthy of possessing these keys. You keep them until a generation shall arise that is more worthy to possess them than we are." (Yerushalmi, Shekalim 6:2)

According to the Rebbe of Chabad, we may be that generation, to whom G-d will once again entrust the keys of the Holy Temple. Let us learn the lesson of Tisha B'Av by turning Sinat Chinam into Ahavat Chinam so that the keys of the Holy Temple may be returned to us.