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. Each nerve and each day have a corresponding angelic force.
The angel corresponding to the 9th of Av is Satan [Sam-kel]. The Midrash asks why the angel asked to be released at dawn and answers that it was that day the Sam-kel was chosen out of all of the myriads of angels to lead the heavenly prayer service. He was chosen because he had been beaten by Jacob. We see from this that his role is not to win!
On this day the power of Sam-kel 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. The Temple was also destroyed on this same day. By fasting, we overcome the tests of temptation, and when we do so we elevate even this most powerful of negative forces to its source in holiness.
The Sages note that it was the "Mixed Multitude" of non-Jews that accompanied the Jews in their exodus from Egypt who instigated the idolatry of the Golden Calf. The Arizal explains that the Mixed Multitude was indeed meant to be elevated eventually, since they contained sparks of holiness, and therefore Moses attempted to gather the Mixed Multitude under the wings of the Divine Presence and convert them to Judaism.
But Moses tried to do this prematurely. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that every process of spiritual growth must proceed through the three stages: submission of the ego, in order to gain new insight; separation of good and evil, in order to refine and purify the insight; and sweetening of the impure elements of the insight with the power generated by the pure, refined insight. Moses' mistake was skipping the middle stage of this process.
The scripture uses an expression that bears two meanings concerning the creation of the world for since the day the world was created until the present time the world has not attained perfection. Everything depends on man's deeds. Had man not sinned, the universe would have come to perfection. Because of his sin, it was not perfected.
So far the Creation has only come to the level of rectification corresponding to chochmah. But there is a far greater, higher level that is still to be attained. For when the hidden beginning (keter) is revealed in all its power and glory, all the lights will come to a far greater, higher level, after which there will be no more decline. This will ultimately be revealed in the 3rd Holy Temple, may it be built soon in our days.
The term "bein hametzarim", translated as "between the days of
distress", refers to the three weeks between the 17th of the month of
Tammuz and the 9th
of Av.
Parashat Maasei discusses the 42
journeys (or camping places) of the Jewish People in the desert before reaching
the Land of Israel. These 42 stops represent
the major rectifications that a Jew must accomplish before
Mashiach will come. This parsha
is always read during this time period, Bein HaMetzarim. There are
21 days in Bein HaMetzarim which are 21 days and 21 nights. These
42 periods correspond to the 42 stops. Therefore these rectifications are
especially relevant Bein HaMetzarim, the days in which we
concentrate on rectifying the transgressions that caused us to be cast into
exile.
There is a similarity between the moon and the Holy Temple. The revelation in the Holy Temple only could occur while it was standing. The difference between the eras of the Holy Temple and the eras of Exile is like the difference between the times when the moon is full and when it is not full. The light in the Holy Temple was limited in the sense that it depended on the existence of the Holy Temple. The infinite light shines even in the time of exile, but because of the relatively low level that exists in exile, we are not able to see it clearly. Similarly, a full moon depends upon the right time and circumstances for its illumination, but the light continues even when the moon is not full, even when we cannot perceive the light.
The sages have noted that Av, symbolized by the constellation of the lion is the time when Ariel (the house of G-d) was destroyed. In addition, it is predicted that Ariel will be rebuilt in the constellation of the lion. Clearly, the full moon of Tu B'Av is unlike other full moons; Tu B'Av is a time when we can appreciate the greatness of redemption, starting from the lowest depths and reaching the supreme heights.
The Shabbat between Rosh Chodesh Av and the 9th of Av, our annual
mourning period of the destruction of the two Holy Temples, is called "Shabbat
Chazon". The word "chazon", Hebrew for "prophetic vision" is
the first word of the Haftorah read on
this Shabbat. This Haftorah contains stern admonishments of the prophet
Isaiah to the Jewish people to repent.
Rabbi Levi
Yitzchok of Berdichev, one of the great Chassidic masters and
fabled as the defender of the Jewish people in the Heavenly Court , revealed
another meaning of Shabbat Chazon: he taught that each Jew is given a
subtle vision of the Third Temple on this Shabbat. This vision is meant to
arouse in us the desire to finally have the Third Temple, similar to a child
who, having been shown a gift he will receive, strives to improve his behavior.
"Enough of this exile," we are meant to say and feel. "We want the Temple, so we
can finally serve G-d in the best way, the way that G-d originally requested of
us."
The Rebbe is judged for demanding the Redemption before its time.
Mourning and restrictions at this time.
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