Kapłańska 26:16 Halacha: Gray Matter I & Mishneh Torah, Torah Study

The Ramban, in his commentary to Vayikra (26:16), states that the destruction describes there refers to destruction of the First Temple, and the similar destruction described in Devarim (Chapter 28) alludes to the destruction of the Second Temple. Rav Hershel Schachter (Be'ikvei Hatzon 32:15-16) understands that according to the Ramban, no destruction will occur in Israel subsequent to the destruction of the Second Temple. Rav Schachter notes that the Ramban, in his description of the Second Temple's destruction, focuses on the destruction of the Jewish government, and not on the destruction of the Temple itself. Since what happened then is never supposed to repeat itself, Rav Schachter suggests that the redemption becomes irreversible once a sovereign Jewish state has been established in Eretz Yisrael.

It is a grievous sin to disgrace the wise or to hate them. The destruction of Jerusalem did not come about until the disciples of the wise in its midst were disgraced, even as it is said: "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets" (II Chron. 36.16), as if saying, they despised those who instructed His words. Such is also the meaning of the words of the Torah in saying: "Thus if ye so reject My statutes" (Lev. 26.16), those who instruct My statutes ye so reject. He who disgraces the wise has no share in the World to Come and is in the category of such of whom it is said: "Because he hath despised the word of the Lord" (Num. 15.31).¹⁰Shabbat, 119b; Sanhedrin, 99a. C. G.