Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi

Volume I, number 19 Brought to you by Naaleh.com

Valuable Vision- Based on a shiur by Shira Smiles Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein The Jewish People does not only celebrate Can we recognize God’s love in difficult 17th of Tamuz to the ninth of , the days holidays of joy and grandeur. We also times, when His mercy seems hidden from that seem darkest and most empty for our devote time to focusing on our communal us? We must not give up hope during times nation, the potential for growth and rejuvena- failures and tragedies. In fact, we remem- of trial. Rather, we must pursue Him, tion is implanted within us. This desolation ber the time of our greatest loss, the beseeching Him to lovingly show us His was necessary so that new spiritual life destruction of our Holy Temple, for a full face. would spring forth, much as the gardener three week period, from the seventeenth of This is the concept that lies at the heart of prunes the trees to allow the sunlight in so Tamuz to the ninth of Av. chazon, the Shabbat of vision, the that the new growth will be vibrant and Such a long focus on our tragedy would last of the three haftorot of tragedy before healthy. appear to be depressing. However, it all Tisha b’Av, one for each of the three weeks. The greater vision of this time is to internal- depends on one’s perspective. If we focus The designation comes from the first word of ize Hashem’s love for us, in good times and on ourselves, on our failings and subse- this week’s Haftorah, “The vision of bad, and to open our hearts to His quent suffering, commemorating the …” The visions of these haftorot seem Presence, to know Him each day, and to tragedy for so long is self-defeating. But if full of impending doom, for they foretell the return Him to our hearts, the seat of our we concentrate on Hakodosh Boruch Hu, quickly approaching hordes that will overrun emotions and passions. understand whatever happens to us is Israel and destroy the Holy Temple. Never- At the end of Tisha b’Av, we bless the new through His Divine guidance and theless, upon closer inspection, one can moon, the symbol of new hope. It will reach Providence, then we can accept our tribula- discern the glimmer of hope even in these its fullness on the fifteenth of Av, traditionally tions with an element of joy, knowing that foreboding prophecies. a day of great joy and dancing. these, too, are a manifestation of God’s How does Jeremiah, in the first Haftorah, Hashem supports us, Hashem loves us, in love for us. We can understand that envision this prophecy? He sees a rod of an the days of our joy, and especially in the Hashem, our Father, has raised us, but we almond tree. Within this image lies the hope days of our tribulation and exile. We must have rebelled against Him. Nevertheless, that will turn despair into future joy. Right look beyond the barren rod to its potential. although He is forced to reprimand us and now, this rod is a mere stick, barren of any The almond branch will bear fruit, and our punish us, He does so out of love, so that leaves, buds or fruit. But in twenty-one days, term of exile will help perfect us so that we we will correct our ways and grow properly, the almond tree will blossom and bear fruit. may merit the final redemption speedily, in as any parent raising his child would do. So, too, in the twenty-one days from the our days. Tisha B’av: The Beginning of Redemption Based on a Naaleh.com shiur on the Three Weeks & Tisha B’Av by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller In Megilas Eicha, we read, “Kol rodfeha maintained a back- to- back position all The Bnei Yissachar writes that the Nine Days hiseguah ben hamitzraim”-All those who through the period before the Destruction, consist of 216 hours. This corresponds to the pursue her reach her, ben hamitzarim.” The signifying Hashem’s anger with us. Yet as same numerical value as Aryeh-a lion. A lion’s says this passuk refers to the soon as the Churban began, they turned roar by its very nature inspires fear. We read Shechina. All those who seek Hashem around and faced each other. This was a in Megilat Eicha, “Hashem is like a bear who during the Three Week period of mourning revelation of great love from Hashem. What is waits in ambush and like a lion in a hidden will find Him. This is hinting to us that the significance of these perplexing place.” It is written in the text as Aryeh but it is everything that has the potential to bring messages? read as Ari without the letter “heh”. The about Mashiach’s coming, can be born within The Jewish people did not believe that the numerical value of “heh” is five which signifies us at this time. Destruction would happen until it actually that it is only the Ari, the first 211 hours of the Even though we fast on the 9th of Av, the Beit began. When they saw that the prophecy did Nine Days which are meant to inspire fear. Hamikdash itself only began burning towards indeed occur, they felt an enormous However, the last five hours of Tisha B’Av night. One would think that our mourning closeness to Hashem’s Will. They saw their signify loving kindness. They encompass the would intensify at that point. However we find suffering as the source of their rectification five sefirot of chesed and the five sefirot of the opposite is true. The laws of mourning and the start of a new beginning. Similarly, gevurah. This indicates that even though the are somewhat lessened as the day of Tisha when we can say sincerely to Hashem that we last five hours before the beginning of the b’av wanes. In addition, the keruvim-angelic do not want distance, we are actualizing the Churban brought destruction, it was also the cherubs, which stood atop the Holy Ark, beginning of the Messianic promise. beginning of the ultimate redemption. Continued on next page...

visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | for questions, suggestions, or dedication opportunities, email [email protected] 1 Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi

Tisha B’av: The Beginning of Redemption-Continued Based on a Naaleh.com shiur on the Three Weeks & Tisha B’Av by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller

The twenty two days of Bein Hamitzraim obstacles. The more we overcome our waiting for us to work towards rectification. parallel the twenty Days of Awe from Rosh challenges, the closer we come to Hashem. Our Sages write that Hashem began rebuild- Hashana to Shemini Atzeres. Tisha B’av Therefore, we should treasure nisyonot. On ing and the Third Temple from corresponds to Shemini Atzeres, the Tisha B’av, we reached the lowest point. We the very moment that the great conflagration holiday in which we reach the highest could not move any further from Hashem. It began. Indeed, as we grieve over the possible level of closeness to Hashem. was then that Jewish people realized that Destruction, Hashem is constructing the There are two ways of drawing near to they needed to invest effort towards tikun. next Beit Hamikdash, in the merit of our Hashem. One way is in spite of the distance The says that the fact that things regret for our mistakes. and difference. Another way is because of have not changed is because we have not our intimacy with Him. We all have changed. We have to realize that Hashem is

Rebbetzin’s Perspective Part 13: Excerpted from Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller’s Question and Answer series on Naaleh.com

Question: books on Bitachon including the works of Breslov books, Azamra, Mayim, Ayeh, and I would like to work on emunah/bitachon, Sheinberg. If you are intellectually Tzohar, translated into English by Rabbi middos, chessed, and sameach/bchelko. inclined and would like to study the classical Avraham Greenbaum. If you’re at an Can you give me some advice on how to works, I would recommend you learn advanced level and have more intellectual systematically set up a learning schedule? I Chovot Halevovot in a systematic way. Don’t interests, I would recommend any of the greatly enjoy studying Chassidus, Mussar, start at the beginnining with Shar Hayichud excellent books available today on Tanya. and Hashkafa topics . What books can I which is difficult and philosophical and lends You can do myriad acts of chessed through use? I would also like to do chessed, itself more to studying with a teacher rather the telephone. Contact Partners in however since I don’t live near a Jewish than on your own. Study the chapters on and offer to learn with a non-observant community, I do not know of any resources. middot and avodat Hashem which would woman who is also interested in topics Can you suggest some ideas? include Shaar Habitachon. The vast majority related to Hashkafa and bitachon. This of Mussar books that were subsequently would benefit both you and your learning Answer: written, draw a lot on Chovot Halevovot, so partner. Additionally, I would suggest you In terms of learning Mussar and Hashkafa, you would do well to study it in its original contact the nearest Jewish community and I would recommend you study Michtav form. As far as learning Chassidus, I don’t find out about elderly people who would M’Eliyahu. If that is beyond your Hebrew know what your Hebrew skills and intellec- enjoy phone visitations. Getting a call from textual skills, you can learn the English tual capacities are, but I would recommend someone who is cheery, has something translation, Strive For Truth, which is not as you start with Nesivos Sholom by the interesting to say, and is willing to listen, can rich or extensive as the original Hebrew, but Slonimer . If you have no Hebrew make a world of a difference in a lonely is still very good. There are many excellent skills, than try to obtain the four basic person’s life.

Halachot of Tisha B'Av A Window to the Essence of the Day Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Shimon Isaacson

The Gemara writes that Hashem brought Churban? The Alshich explains with a Torah sincerely they were connected to the great Destruction because, “Shelo parable. The court musician once committed Hashem in a very intimate bond. Once they birchu b’Torah techila”-The Jewish people a crime for which he was liable to be put to ceased studying, there was no reason left to did not recite the blessings on the Torah death. However, since the King appreciated stay the execution and the Churban began. before learning. With the cessation of his music so much, he stayed his execution. The way back to Hashem and the ultimate prophecy and open miracles, the only way After some time, the musician lost his ability Geula, is through renewed commitment to the were able to achieve deveikut- to play. It was then that he was executed, as Torah study. connection to Hashem was through there was no reason left to keep him alive. studying Torah. How did this bring about the Similarly, as long as the Jews were learning

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