This coming Shabbat, which precedes Tisha Be’av, is referred to as Shabbat Chazon because of the Haftara read after the weekly Torah portion which begins with the words Chazon Yeshayahu ben Amotz. The three Shabbatot preceding Tisha Be’av are referred to as the Three of Calamity because the Haftarot of these three Shabbatot discuss the prophet’s rebuke of the Jewish nation, the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash, and the sins that caused it.
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev explained that the meaning of the word Chazon (vision) also contains great comfort: Chazon comes from the language of vision, meaning that God shows us the good that is destined to come upon us.
As he said:
God has prepared our Temple for us, but has not yet given it to us. Every year on Shabbat Chazon, He calls out to us and shows us: Behold and see the Third Temple, ready to descend from heaven to earth in fire. But it is in your hands. Return to me and I will return to you. If you stop polluting your deeds and guard yourselves properly, I will immediately bring it down from heaven for you.
One of the reasons for the destruction of the Temple (besides not keeping Shabbat, disrespecting sages, etc.) is baseless hatred, as the Talmud in Yoma (9b) says: "The Second Temple, where they were engaged in Torah and mitzvot and acts of kindness, why was it destroyed? Because of baseless hatred!"
But what is baseless hatred? How can one hate someone baselessly? If you ask anyone why they hate someone, they'll tell you it's because of something that person did or due to jealousy or competition for resources.
Let's analyze the Talmudic story of Kamza and Bar Kamza (Gittin 55b-56a). A man had a friend named Kamza and an enemy named Bar Kamza. He hosted a party and told his servant to invite Kamza, but the servant mistakenly invited Bar Kamza.
When the host saw Bar Kamza, he said, "We're enemies, what are you doing here? Get out!" Bar Kamza offered to pay for his meal, but the host refused. He even offered to pay for half or all of the party, but the host still refused and threw him out.
Bar Kamza, feeling humiliated, decided to take revenge by informing on the Jews to the king. The Talmud says that the destruction of the Temple was due to baseless hatred.
At first glance, it seems like the hatred between the host and Bar Kamza wasn't baseless. The host had a reason to hate Bar Kamza, and Bar Kamza was seeking revenge. However, the Talmud says it was baseless hatred.
The key is understanding that baseless hatred doesn't mean hatred without a past reason, but rather hatred without any future benefit or purpose, even a selfish one. In the story, both the host and Bar Kamza acted out of hatred that surpassed their own self-interest.
The host refused an offer that would have benefited him financially, and Bar Kamza's actions led to the destruction of the Temple, which ultimately harmed him and the entire Jewish people.
In essence, baseless hatred refers to hatred that is so intense that it ignores one's own interests and benefits, causing harm to oneself and others without any gain.
Another way to understand the nature of baseless hatred is that many people think it's about hating someone without a reason. However, the true meaning of baseless hatred that led to the destruction of Jerusalem and our prolonged exile is different.
Even if someone has wronged you or harmed your property or dignity, our sages still call it baseless hatred if you hate them for it. This is because it's not a sufficient reason to hate a fellow Jew and wish them harm.
The Torah only permits hatred towards wicked individuals who anger God, heretics, and those who knowingly sin. However, in our generation, even those who are distant from God are considered like captured infants, and it's forbidden to hate them.
As King David said, "Those who hate You, Lord, I hate" - referring to those who hate God and cause others to sin. But when it comes to someone who is still imperfect and makes mistakes, hatred towards them is considered "baseless."
Just as you don't hate yourself and instead judge yourself favorably, knowing you're not perfect, you should judge others favorably too. This is what's required of us, even when hatred arises from the depths of our hearts.
When the Yerushalmi Maggid, Rabbi Shalom Shwadron, was asked how to overcome feelings of hatred and instead love someone who has wronged us, he offered wise advice: "Whenever you're faced with such a situation, wait for a while before reacting. If you do this, I can assure you that time will help change your feelings in accordance with the Torah's desire to increase love between people."