Who destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem?

Shalom Aleichem Chevra, welcome back! Who really destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem — and what does a barefoot billionaire, a fig, and a 40-year fast have to do with it? In this shiur we dive deep into Parshat Matot, picking up right where we left off in the Gemara on the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. We start with the power of vows — what Rashi teaches about the word 'profane' (chalal), how it connects to the Hebrew words for secular and empty space, and why keeping your word is one of the most fundamental ways to be like Hashem, Who always keeps His promises. From there we move into the battle against Midian, and Rashi's two answers for why Hashem commanded war against Midian but not Moab. One answer is about fear, the other is something beautiful — hidden within both Moab and Ammon were two holy sparks, Ruth and Naamah, whose descendants would lead to the royal line of King David. We also take a look at the 12,000 soldiers sent to battle, why only a thousand per tribe were chosen, and the incredible image of King David going into war with a golden Menorah-shaped psalm around his neck. Then we get into the heart of the Gemara — the story of Martha bat Boethus, the wealthi