What Happened On The 17th Of Tamuz?
The Mishna says, “חמשה דברים אירעו”
Roshei-tevos אח״ד
Meaning, all five events are one
All included in “נשתברו הלוחות”
Broken Stones
Like the stones that were once the בית המקדש
Waiting to be collected and reconnected
דוד המלך
Evicts גלית by gathering five stones
And uniting them
Today’s avoda:
Collect אבנים
One letter at a time
Yaakov Avinu and Esther HaMalka
Both impervious to Haman
הצילני נא מיד אחי
הצילה מכלב נפשי
Yaakov died, but not really
Esther was violated, according to Bavli
But not אליבא דאמת
Haman is still the slander master
But אמת snakeproofs
Eternalizes
ודובר אמת בלבבו
Unless the Meraglim break our heart
לא רגל על לשונו
א מ ת
מ א ר ץ
ת צ מ ח
From The War Room
The Yerushalmi (Peah 1:1) says, wars are lost due to
Loshon Hora
Bavli (Erechin 15b) says, the tikun for
Loshon Hora
Is learning Torah
It (Makkos 10a) also says
Learning Torah gives strength in battle
Rashi in Divrei Hayamim (2:17) says
Learning Torah dissuades enemies from attacking
Clear enough?
Shavua Tov Yidden
Leil Seder
Halacha requires we at least try to stay awake all night
Most don’t even bother trying
Leil Shavuos
Halacha doesn’t mention staying up
But we do anyway
1-Why does Pesach require it?
2-And why do we ignore it?
3-Why does Shavuos not require it?
4-And why do we stretch ourselves to do it?
1-Start the Tikun asap (minimize socializing all night long)
2-Use Tikun of Arizal only
3-Stay on your feet after midnight
4-After the Tikun learn Zohar and/or Kabbala and/or deep Chassidus (ideally Baal Shem Tov/Imrei Emes)
5-After midnight, say all the birchos hashachar except netilas yadayim to be said after mikveh
6-Mikveh shortly before dawn and say “Naaseh v’Nishma”
7-Don’t go to sleep until after Musaf
8-Savor Akdamus (prepare in advance)
9-Kavanas Ayeh during kedusha of Musaf (pinnacle of 50 days of avoda)
10-Dairy kiddush/meal (blood of yetzias Mitzrayim has become milk of Binah)
11-If possible, walk to the Kosel and to Dovid HaMelech
12-Learn Tehillim during the day (at least perek 119)
13-Live the entire year hassle free!
Yaakov Simcha
Took a letter from Eliyahu
Why the letter vav?
Why are five relocated?
How does this guarantee the announcement of our redemption?
Why specify Yaakov’s sons?
How does this trigger Hashem’s זכרון?
Shavua Tov
Lag Like A Pro
1-Go to Meron
2-Eat matza, turkey and drink Israeli wine
3-Be happy like Rashbi
4-Take a few snips at a youngster’s first haircut
5-Ignite fires of all shapes and sizes
6-Throw kvitlach and tefillos in, not hot dogs and marshmallows
7-Throw perfectly good clothing in too
8-Shoot a bow and arrow in all six directions
9-Learn the meaning of the three Lag songs. Sing and dance them repeatedly
10-Greet others with “A guten moed”
11-Learn Idra Zuta and Tikun 33
12-Call out to Hashem, “למה נגרע”, throughout the day
13-Shofars all around
14-Trust Hashem like Rashbi
15-Thank Hashem for Rashbi
Is Today Pesach Sheni?
Depends who you ask
Is today Chesed sheb’Hod?
Depends who you ask
What’s today’s avoda?
Depends who you ask
Who should you ask?
Depends who you ask
Thank Hashem you have to to ask
Kohanim Get Special Treatment
דברים שבקדושה and tzoraas cases
Obviously distinguished
Beyond the Beis Hamikdash
The mitzora must be seen
In person
The Kohen’s eyes
And his words
Govern the state
Of tzoraas
How does וקדשתו grant
The Kohen this authority ?