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The Zohar
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Hide and Seek |
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From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai;
translated and edited by Simcha-Shmuel Treister
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The word "eicha" is the first word of the book of Lamentations, read on the 9th of Av. It also appears in the Torah portion read traditionally the Shabbat before. A different word with the same spelling appears in the verse spoken after Adam has eaten from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He knows he has done wrong and has hidden; afterwards, G-d banishes both he and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
This parallels the destruction of the Temples and the exile of the Jews from the Holy Land. Just as the Garden of Eden was left bereft, so will Jerusalem be as a result of failing to heed His word. Sinning
causes the holy presence to depart, leaving the unfortunate sinner in a state of harsh exile instead of sweet unity.
In the future G-d will burn up all wickedness from the world and will destroy death for ever and we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
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 message that G-d's Presence can be contained on earth by building a man-made Sanctuary is mind boggling! When Solomon beheld that the presence of G-d filled the Temple he had built, he was awed. He realized that this was only possible because Mount Moriah had been the gateway to Heaven since Creation. For that reason Adam and Noah offered their sacrifices at that site, and so did Abraham and Jacob.
The customs of mourning we adopt
during these days mirror the primordial contraction which occurred before the
creation of the world that created the outline or the "place" of the world.
The 1st of the five
calamities to occur on the 17th of Tamuz was Moses breaking the tablets
after the worshipping of the Golden Calf. We see a certain breaking must occur
before the second tablets, which Moses brought down on Yom Kippur, could take
hold and be integrated properly by the people.
Therefore, though these days are
filled with sad and painful memories, they give us the outline and parameters in
which to understand all Jewish and world history. By feeling deeply the broken
world we live in, we acquire the compassion and tools to rectify the
world and ourselves, thereby fulfilling our crucial mission as individuals and
as Jews.
In the Book of Lamentations read on Tisha B'Av, one can see how judgment is transformed into redemption. For example, the verse - "G-d, in his anger, shamed fair Zion" - sounds like it is referring to harsh punishment. The Hebrew word for "he shamed", "yaiv", is associated with the word "av", meaning a thick cloud of rain. Thick clouds represent kelipa, concealment of G-dliness, and bring to mind a thick cloud of negative energy.
However, clouds also have positive associations, just as the curses in Leviticus and Deuteronomy have the potential to become blessings. Moses could not enter the Sanctuary because a cloud settled on top of it. On the day the Torah was given, there was so much smoke and so many clouds that the Jewish People could not approach the mountain further. These clouds function as a concealment which will eventually be lifted in the time of revelation.
Some people know there was once a Temple; it was a beautiful and holy building that was destroyed, which is tremendously sad. Some people understand what used to happen in the Temple - Priests brought offerings daily and for special occasions, Levites sang, and nation of Israel came and took part in all this holy work; all gone, much to our dismay.
Other people deeply understand what the Temple meant. It was the place where G-d's indwelling resided - something we today can not even imagine. It was a place where a person could enter and see miracles and connect with G-d in a tangible way. The Temple will be rebuilt, please G-d, very soon, but its loss is a tragedy that we must live with every day.
The students of the Arizal discover a unique household.
Tisha B’Av, although a fast day, is considered in some ways as a festival. Even though the Holy Temple was destroyed on that day, nevertheless, the Jewish people were saved from extinction. G-d, in His infinite mercy, poured his wrath on wood and stone instead.
Further, it is taught that the same day the Holy Temple was destroyed (Tisha B’Av) is the day when Mashiach is born.
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