The Hidden Reasons for Tisha B'Av—or the Seven Bows to Esav

The Hidden Reasons for Tisha B'Av—or Those Same Seven Bows to Esav

Yaakov Avinu pleaded with G-d: “atzileini mi-yad achi mi-yad Esav” (save me from the hands of my brother Esav), meaning that his hands, even when embracing in a brotherly manner, cause the Jewish people far more harm than blows. The holy Zohar, in the section of Vayishlach, states that the 248 positive mitzvot correspond to the body's 248 organs, while the 365 negative mitzvot correspond to its 365 sinews and the 365 days of the year. The prohibition against eating the “gid ha-nasheh” (the sciatic nerve) is associated with Tisha B'Av—and “anyone who eats during the fast of Tisha B'Av is considered as though he has eaten the “gid ha-nasheh.” The Chatam Sofer (on Devarim, derashah 5580, 7 Av) says that Yaakov fled from Lavan on the eve of Rosh Chodesh Av. On the seventh day (6 Av), Lavan caught up with him, and Yaakov entered into a covenant with him without G-d's permission, introducing two Aramaic words into the Torah: “Yegar Sahaduta” (although Yaakov called it “Gal-ed”). By doing so, however, he gave the klipah a foothold in kedushah—and that is why the gentiles were able to enter the Holy of Holies of the Temple. On the night of Tisha B'Av, Esav's angel (who is also Satan, Samael, the Angel of Death, and so on) wrestled with Yaakov. Since Tisha B'Av is his turn to “sing his song” before G-d, he hurried to the service that morning and injured Yaakov's gid ha-nasheh. Just as he has no power on 10 Tishrei (Yom Kippur), so on Tisha B'Av it is specifically he who tells G-d about the Jewish people—and his role as prosecutor is to speak of their shortcomings. On Tisha B'Av, Yaakov bowed seven times to Esav, thereby giving the klipah even greater strength. That is why the Jewish people face so many difficulties on Tisha B'Av, because of this foothold of the klipah. It is also a fact that the meraglim (spies) were able, without much difficulty, to frighten 600,000 adult Jews, “keshei oref” (stiff-necked), and bring them to tears out of fear for their lives—for the courage of holiness is concealed on this day. It is also a fact that the next day, when the veil fell from their eyes, they went fearlessly into battle—even after Moshe told them that G-d would not help them in the fight. They were still unafraid! Even during the darkest days of our lives, we must fear nothing, for G-d has openly promised to grant us goodness. In our time, when the Jewish people are more united than ever, we must not weep over threats of a terrifying future. We must not embrace or kiss today's Esav, nor fall for his schemes. When we are together with our Creator, no one can defeat us. Even if we limp in pain over the victims of war, the sun will rise and G-d will heal us; all those who fell will return to us, and Mashiach will proclaim from the Temple: “Anavim, higi'a zman ge'ulatechem!”   Prayer for protection from the klipat Haman/Amalek The Most Powerful Prayer for Salvation from the Klipah of Haman from Rosh Chodesh Adar through Purim (Rabbi Eliyahu Getz)   [P.S. The photo features a work by Luda Miriam Schulman, provided to the site]