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From the Zohar, Vayishlach, p.170b; translation and commentary by Simcha Treister
The story of the struggle of Jacob with the angel is
used by the Zohar to show how every day in the year as well as every limb in the
body has a spiritual counterpart. In his struggle with the angel Samael he was
injured in the sciatic nerve. This nerve is rooted in the lower spine and runs
down the thigh to the ankle. It is traditionally associated with the sexual
drive.
A person has 248 limbs corresponding to the 248
"positive" commandments the Torah requires action to fulfill. These also
correspond to the 248 angels that the Shechina clothes herself in.
The names of these angels are like the name of their
Master.
The Hebrew word for "angel", "malach", has a
numerical value of 91 and is the same as the names Havayah (26) and
Ado-nai (65) when added together. Each limb, when consciously used to
perform a mitzvah, is connected to the spiritual source of that limb and
vitalized by the union of the spiritual, represented by the name Havayah
and the physical, represented by the name Ado-nai. The indwelling of the
light from its spiritual source is then made possible in the physical world
enabling the Shechina to have a dwelling place in the physical world.
A person also has 365 sinews and these correspond to
the 365 "negative" commandments that one should not do, and corresponding to
this are the 365 days of the year.  | | " Jacob was damaged in the pelvic region because this was where the Satan could claim he had not followed the Torah..." | | |
The sinews or nerves carry instructions to the limbs
from the brain, requiring them to act. Consciously obeying the will of G-d by
not acting in a situation where a person "feels" like acting, strengthens the
corresponding sinew or nerve and causes holiness to dwell upon it. Failing to
resist the temptation or perform the mitzva weakens the limb or nerve and causes
a spirit of impurity to dwell on it. Each nerve and each day have a
corresponding angelic force.
And here we see that the 9th of Av is one of these
days and its corresponding angel is Satan [Samael] who is one of the 365
angels.
This is the reason the Torah says "the Children of
Israel do not eat [et] the sciatic nerve which is in the hollow of the
thigh to this day because he [the angel Samael] damaged the Jacob's pelvis in
the sciatic nerve." (Gen. 32:33) | " That day
...Samael was chosen out of all of the myriads of angels to lead the heavenly prayer service..." | | |
Jacob was damaged in the pelvic region because this
was where the Satan could claim he had not followed the Torah by marrying two
sisters. Although this argument is refuted on many grounds it nevertheless gave
the accusing angel a hold over Jacob.
Note that the text includes the word "et" (in
square brackets) that seems unnecessary and has only a grammatical relevance
generally showing an intention to add something to the text that might otherwise
be excluded.
The word "et" comes to include the 9th of Av on
which there is no eating or drinking.
The text is therefore interpreted as stressing the
fact that even though there is no eating or drinking on the 9th of
Av, even on that day it is also specifically forbidden to eat the sciatic nerve.
Because of this [it is clear] that the Holy One,
blessed be He, saw everything and gave a hint of them to Jacob.
"And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him
until dawn arose." (Gen. 32:25) This shows that the angel tried to fault him on
every day of the year and on every one of his sinews, and he only found a hold
on the sciatic nerve. Immediately Jacob's power was weakened, and in the days of
the year this [weakening] corresponds to the 9th of Av. | | " Anyone who eats on the 9th of Av is considered as though he eats of the sciatic nerve..." | | |
Once the strength of a limb or nerve is damaged by a
sin, or in the case of a tzadik like Jacob even the hint of a sin,
this enables External Forces causing "accidents" and sickness to gain power over
them.
The Midrash asks why the angel asked to be released at
dawn and answers that it was that day the Samael was chosen out of all of the
myriads of angels to lead the heavenly prayer service. He was chosen because he
had been beaten! We see from this that his role is not to win! We are supposed
to overcome the tests of temptation, and when we do so we elevate even this most
powerful of negative forces to its source in holiness.
On this day the power of Samael is increased, and
stern judgment was passed on us [causing a whole generation to die in the desert
after they believed the report of the Spies] and the Temple was destroyed. And
so it is that anyone who eats on the 9th of Av is considered as
though he eats of the sciatic nerve.
So we see that it is not an "accident" that so many
disasters have occurred to the descendants of Jacob on this day. It is a result
of a weakness to give in to temptation that we must resolve to rectify and
fasting strengthens this resolve at its most basic level. We constantly have to
struggle with the temptation to eat or drink on this, one of the hottest and
most uncomfortable days of the year. By succeeding we strengthen the forces of
the holy in our own body and empower the rebuilding of the Temple.
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