| |
Translation and commentary by Baruch Emanuel Erdstein
From the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz through the
9th of Av, the Jewish nation traditionally observes a period of
mourning over a series of tragic events which have befallen us during this time
of year throughout the generations. From the slanderous speech of the Spies (in
Ex. 13, 14), to the siege and destruction of both our Holy Temples in Jerusalem,
to the beginning of the Crusades, to the climax of the Spanish Inquisition,
these three weeks characterize a time of concealment of G-d's mercy. In the
following teaching, Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech from Dinov reveals to us some profound
secrets of the duration of this period, helping us to see the Divine providence
behind the hardships surrounding this time and how they are all meant to effect
rectification and healing on a grand scale.
Regarding the meaning behind the [number of] hours of these days
[namely the Three Weeks]: Within the 13 days found in the month of Tammuz, there
are 312 hours, which equals the numerical value of the 12 permutations of the
name Havayah. And [today], due to our many transgressions, the verse
"...gone into captivity [in Hebrew, 'shevi',=312] before the enemy"
(Lamentations 1:5) is what is now manifest.
The name Havayah, spelled yud (= 10), hei (= 5),
vav (= 6), hei (= 5), has a numerical value of 26. Add up all 12
possible combinations of those letters (12x26) and we get 312, which is also the
numerical value of the word "shevi", which means "captivity"; "shevi"
is spelled shin (= 300), beit (= 2), yud (= 10), which also
adds up to 312. Here, the Benei Yissascar teaches that in place of
the divine mercy expressed by all potential combinations of the name Havayah,
a different, harsher reality presents itself at this time of year.  | | " From the last five hours of that day... the forces of judgment are sweetened...." | | |
In addition, the Hebrew word in the above verse translated here as
"enemy" is "tzar", which, while also meaning "narrow", can also mean
"adversary" or, generally, "affliction". The three week long period of mourning
and acknowledging our losses and tribulations throughout history during this
time of year is called "Bein HaMetzarim" - "Between the Straits",
or "Amidst the Afflictions", related to the word "tzar", also implying
constricted (i.e. narrow) consciousness, as opposed to expansive, elevated
consciousness. See "Meditations for Troubled Times" on the Ari's meditation on
transforming the word "tzara" to "r'tzei", meaning "find favor",
in the Standing Prayer during the Three Weeks.
And when the forces of mercy are aroused from these 12 permutations
of the name Havayah, "He will return [in Hebrew, 'yashuv',
spelled with the same letters as 'shevi', rearranged] and will have mercy
upon us" (Micah 7:19).
Here, the same technique of transforming words which connote
harshness into benevolence is utilized.
And the number of hours within the 9 days [of the Three Weeks]
found in the month of Av is 216, the numerical value of the word " gevura"
[Hebrew for "strength"].
Nine days, each with 24 hours, totals 216 hours. The term "gevura",
also a name of one of the ten sefirot, connotes severity and boundaries.
During this harshest time of national mourning, each of us is called upon to
gather our courage and face the individual and collective challenges that face
us. This takes inner strength - even just to see that the tests G-d gives us are
really to help us to develop character and perfect our essential selves.
[It is also the numerical value of the word] "yirah"
[meaning "fear" or awe", also themes of this harsh period].
"Yirah" is spelled yud (= 10), reish (= 200),
alef (= 1), hei (= 5), which adds up to 216. Fear is also consistent
with the theme of the Three Weeks.
[It is also the numerical value of the word] "aryeh"
[meaning "lion", spelled with the same letters as "yirah"], as is hinted
to in the verse "He is like a bear lying in wait, a lion in secret places"
(Lamentations 3:10). For here [in the above verse, read on Tisha B'Av
itself], while the word is written "aryeh" [again, meaning "lion"], it is
actually read "ari", without the hei [at the end, which has a
numerical value of 5]. This is because, while the number of hours within the
Nine Days [of this very harsh period of the month of Av] equal "aryeh/lion"
[=216], tradition teaches us that from the time of Tisha B'Av's Afternoon Prayer
and on Mashiach ben David is born (Jerusalem Talmud Berachot 82) -
and thus from the last five hours [of that day, the earliest that the Afternoon
Prayer can be performed] the forces of judgment are sweetened. That is the
reason the verse is not read "aryeh", rather "ari" - without the
letter hei.
Without the hei (= 5), five is subtracted from the final
numerical value of "aryeh" (= 216), and is now "ari" = 211. | | " One of the most powerful means of sweetening the forces of severity is the study of Kabbalah..." | | |
Besides Tisha B'Av itself, arguably the most significant day within
the Nine Days is that of the fifth of (hei) Av, the anniversary of the
passing of the great 16th century Safed Kabbalist, the holy Rabbi
Yitzchak Luria, nicknamed the "Ari". So overwhelmed with his level of
holiness were the greats of his generation, that they referred to him as "Elo-hi
[G-dly] Rabbi Yitzchak", whose acronym spells "Ari"; it was
said of him that no one since Moses himself had achieved such levels of clarity
and closeness to G-d. Today, the study of Kabbalah is virtually synonymous with
the study of the Writings of the Ari and his students. On the day that a
righteous person, such as the Ari, leaves This World, his/her holiness
culminates, sanctifying that day even for future generations to access their
saintly plane. Our mystical tradition teaches that one of the most powerful
means of sweetening the forces of severity is the study of Kabbalah, and so,
while not stated explicitly by the Benei Yisasschar, the fact that the
day of the "Lion of Safed" is the middle day of the harsh period of the Nine
Days and thus effects a sweetening of this severe spiritual energy seems
implied.
And [these 216 hours] are sweetened via 3 names of " chesed"
[= 72], 3 times 72 [= 216], the numerical value of "aryeh" ["lion"], the
number of hours mentioned above.
And the total number of hours of these 22 days [from the 17th
of Tammuz through the 9th of Av] is 528, the numerical value of the
word "mafteyach" [Hebrew for "key"] - of Redemption. The Sages have
taught us, in Vayikra Rabba 7:3, that the exiles aren't gathered in but
in merit of the Mishnas (which is the secret of the Oral Torah...), as is written:
"Although they pay hire (in Hebrew, 'itnu', which is related to
the word for 'study', from which the term ' Mishna' is derived) among the
nations, now I will gather them..." (Hoshea 8:10, see Baba Batra 8).
Therefore, there are 528 chapters within the Mishnas - the
numerical value of the word "mafteyach" ["key"] (see Megaleh Amukot
on Exodus). Now the great genius our master Rabbi Yeshaya Berlin, of blessed
memory, on his notes on the Talmud, upheld that when one counts them, there are
but 523 chapters - but it seems to me that there are five other additions to the
Mishna (which aren't actually the Mishna itself - namely, the fourth chapter of
Tractate Bikkurim, the sixth chapter of Tractate Avot, tosefta
56a in Pesachim, Kiddushin 82a, and Sota 49b) - and this is
the secret of what we taught above, that that which was open has been shut,
namely the 22 days of the Three Weeks (Bein HaMetzarim), which
have 528 hours - just that the last 5 hours, even though they are included in
this [difficult] period, are sweetened due to the birth of [Mashiach] Ben David.
Therefore [one could figure that] there are 523 chapters, and the additional 5
chapters mentioned all add up to 528 - the "key" [in Hebrew, "mafteyach",
= 528] of the Redemption, may it come speedily in our days, amen.
[From Benei Yissaschar, Tammuz-Av
discourse 2:7]
|
