Rabbi Shlomo Amar: "At the Height of Joy, the Fire Erupted; We Are All Obliged to Mourn It"

Following the terrible tragedy, Rishon LeZion Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, the chief rabbi of Jerusalem, issued an emotional letter of encouragement to the people of Israel.

At the beginning of his letter, the Rishon LeZion wrote: "And all the house of Israel shall bewail the burning which Hashem has kindled."
Such was the magnitude of the terrible disaster and the depth of the decree, that on the holy night, the night of light, it was clear there was wrath and anger, and a fire emerged from before Hashem, reminding us of the death of the holy ones, Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron the Priest on the great day after Moses and the children of Israel built the Mishkan and its vessels as Hashem commanded Moses.

Moses erected the Mishkan in its place, and after Moses and Aaron prayed and Hashem accepted their prayers: "And a fire came out from before Hashem and consumed the burnt offering and the fats on the altar, and all the people saw and shouted and fell on their faces, and at that great time that all the people see the fire descending from heaven, the presence of the Shechinah was revealed, and at the height of the elevation and joy another fire came out and consumed Nadav and Avihu, and about this it is said, "And all the house of Israel shall bewail the burning which Hashem has kindled.".

And such a terrible disaster at such a time, and in this place is a burning of the whole house of Israel, and we all are obliged to mourn it, and to consider our actions in the world," the Rishon LeZion wrote in tears.

"Indeed, it is known that the days of the Omer are days of smallness and judgment and all the wise ones of the generations have warned greatly, that these days should be sweetened by strengthening in Torah learning and fulfilling its commandments, and our Rabbeinu the Ari of blessed memory warned much about love of friends and distancing from anger and dispute and to love each other and respect one another.
And the night of Lag BaOmer is the Hod within Hod (Thursday of the fifth week, which is severe judgment, may Hashem save us),
and the power and merit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai sweetens the judgments and who can stand in the counsel of Hashem to understand why Hashem has made this heavy decree on us, as the prophet Isaiah, may his memory be blessed, said in chapter one. (and see the powerful words of our Rabbeinu Moshe Alshich the Holy on this topic).
And each one must consider his ways and deeds between himself and his Creator, and he will sit with his Creator, and when he truly examines himself, he will merit heavenly help to find what he must correct.
And another soul-searching regarding the entire public, to distance from disputes and baseless hatred, which destroyed our House and burned our Temples, and exiled us from our land, and it is the reason for the prolonged exile during the bitter night of exile with all its troubles.
And if each person makes a decisive and strong resolution to distance from the fire of disputes and reduce envy, hatred, and competition, and increase tolerance and patience, to be of those who are insulted, etc.
Certainly, restraining the traits and conquering the evil inclination will awaken the upper mercies, and Hashem will return and have mercy on us and suppress our iniquities, and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, and turn the severe judgment into kindness and mercy and rise from the chair of judgment and sit on the chair of mercy, and turn this great mourning into joy and light, and bring closer the end of His anointed speedily and in our days, amen.
Hoping and anticipating the salvation of Hashem with mercy," called the Rishon LeZion, may he live long.

It should be noted that the Rishon LeZion, who was on his way to the lighting, burst into heart-breaking tears when he heard the difficult news. His close ones note that the Rabbi is in terrible sorrow and calls at all times to awaken great compassion.