Terumah

The passuk says that the keruvim were פניהם איש אל אחיו, they faced each other.  In Divrei Hayamim however the passuk says that keruvim were ופניהם אל הבית , they faced the house. The Gemara explains that the way the keruvim faced was dependent on Klal Yisroel.  If Klal Yisroel did the ratzon Hashem then the keruvim faced each other, showing affection and love.  However, if they didn’t chas v’shalom, then the keruvim faced away from each other, towards the bayis.  We see through this nes that the keruvim reflected the hanhaga between Hashem and Klal Yisroel.  The Gemara brings that Rav Katina said: When Klal Yisroel went to the Beis HaMikdash for the Shalosh Regalim, the Kohanim would open the paroches and show Klal Yisroel the keruvim, which were hugging each other.  The Kohanim would say, “See the love which Hashem has for you!”

The Maharsha asks: By the churban, the goyim came into the Beis HaMikdash, into the kodesh hakodoshim, and saw the keruvim facing each other and hugging. It would seem that by the churban Klal Yisroel weren’t doing the ratzon Hashem and the keruvim should have been facing away from each other.  Why then were the keruvim facing each other and showing affection between Hashem and Klal Yisroel?

The Maharsha answers from a Ritva b’shem the Re’eim: It was a miracle that the keruvim were facing each other by the churban.

Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz zatzal explains that when Hashem came to destroy the Beis HaMikdash and send Klal Yisroel into galus, He aroused great ahava to Klal Yisroel.  Only then did Hashem allow for His midas hadin to rule and destroy.  This is as a father doesn’t hit his son until he arouses all his feelings of love and mercy and then he hits. This way the potch is exactly what is needed for the good of his son, and will be most beneficial.

May we be zoche to the binyan Beis HaMikdash and to see the love which Hashem has for us!