The Secret of TAMMUZ

Seen in Zfat (Safed) / Northern Israel

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

I started reading the Chabad book "Sefer Sha'arei Ha'Moadim" but it was mainly talking about how important the month of Tammuz is for being the month of the Ge'ulah (Redemption). Various Chabad Rebbes or, at least, one was released from Russian prison. Not only that but this Shabbat, Chabad is going to celebrate 3 Tammuz (Gimmel Tammuz). The last Rebbe's Yahrzeit or, as the Meshichistim among Chabad say "The day when the Rebbe became invisible". 

I admit that this was all a bit much for me and I started reading another commentary on the Jewish month of Tammuz. One of my favourite commentators is the SHEM MI'SHMUEL and he delivers an extremely interesting commentary on Tammuz.

While still in Gan Eden, Adam Harishon and Chava (Eve) were ruining the human sense of eyesight when they were looking at the apple and started to desire it. As we know, both of them were provided with the highest kinds of souls ever but lost some of them at the moment they sinned.

Remark: According to talmudic and kabbalistic literature, Adam and Eve didn't sin by eating an apple but the Talmud lists various other fruits or possibilities of what both of them ate. One suggestion is that they got drunk and other claim that there was something else involved. Something we don't understand and the Torah doesn't explicitly explains us further details. As a matter of fact, we don't know what a "Tree of Knowledge" is and stands for. 

When Adam and Eve desired the apple (or whatever), they brought a bad aspect on the human sense of eyesight and, as soon as this happens, the sense (or anything else) needs a Tikun (rectification). We are able to rectify something by using it for the good and thus elevate the level of the messed up sense (or anything else).

The Meraglim (Spies) from last week's Parashat SHLACH LECHA were supposed to rectify the sense of eyesight. The spies were sent out in Tammuz and returned in the month of Av. However, their task was to see the land (Israel) and thus see something good. They missed their opportunity and only referred to the negative. Thus they ruined the chance to rectify the sense of the eyesight and now it is up to us to rectify it. How ? By using our human senses for the good and not for the negative.