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The Relationship Between שבירת הלוחות, ת‏‏‏מוז י׳׳ז‎ and the Summer Season
Devora Mael
Maalot Baltimore
The Relationship Between שבירת הלוחות, ת‏‏‏מוז י׳׳ז‎ and the Summer Season
Throughout history, ת‏‏‏מוז י׳׳ז‎has been a day prone to tragedies befalling the Jewish nation. The משנה in תענית explains that 5 major tragedies befell בני ישראל on that day. The first was the שבירת הלוחות which occurred as a result of בני ישראל’s construction of the עגל. The second was that the קרבן תמיד was temporarily suspended during the first בית המקדש. The third tragedy was when the Romans broke through the walls of ירושלים as a final step before destroying the בית המקדש. The fourth was when Apostumos burned the Torah, and the fifth was when an idol was placed in the בית המקדש ( Mishnah Taanis: Chaf vav, Rambam, Perush Hamishnayos, as cited in Eider, 1978).
It is quite perplexing to learn that each of these tragedies occurred on the exact same day. One must delve into the Torah to determine the significance of the day or season in which ת‏‏‏מוז י׳׳ז‎ occurs. By studying the portion of שבירת הלוחות, the first of the five events, inside the Chumash, one can come to appreciate the reason why the day has been conducive to such tragedies within our nation. In שמות 32:1-3, it chronicles the events leading up to the חטא העגל which resulted in the catastrophe of שבירת הלוחות. After 'ה gave the torah to בני ישראל in Sivan, משה went up the mountain to receive the לוחות from 'ה. משה informed בני ישראל that he would remain on the mountain for 40 days and that he would return in the morning of the 40th day. משה meant that he would remain on the mountain for a full 40 days, but בני ישראל mistakenly assumed that the day of משה’s ascent was considered th...

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...arding these הלכות can be tragic.
Additionally, one must be cognizant of the idea that ת‏‏‏מוז י׳׳ז‎does not represent complete destruction. There are three weeks between ת‏‏‏מוז י׳׳ז‎and ט' אב in which one can stop all negative behavior and serve 'ה correctly. One should also note in regard to ת‏‏‏מוז י׳׳ז that when negative events occur, they are often temporary and they should be taken as a message of potentially improved outcomes. With proper effort on our part, the seemingly negative things can really become a means to a greater, more positive end.
References
Abarbanel, Shemot
Eider, S. D. (1978). A Summary of Halachos of the Three Weeks. Lakewood, NJ: Rabbi Shimon D. Eider.
Maharal, Sefer Netzach Yisrael
Psiktah D'Rav Kahana, Shmini Atzeres as cited in Shivtei Yisrael
Rambam, Mishnah Torah, Hilchos Deyos,
Rashbam, Shemot
Rashi, Shemos
Shemos Rabbah
Shemot

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