07 Jul MATTOS-MASSEI: THE THREE WEEKS

Chazal (Eichah
Rabba 4:14)
say that the
Churban was very
beneficial for Klal
Yisrael because
“Hashem poured
out his anger on
wood and stone,”
and not on His
holy nation,
chalilah. This is
related to our discussion above.
With belief in hashgachah pratis,
we understand that everything is for
the good. Even the terrible Churban
was good for Bnei Yisrael, as it
granted them existence, until today.
The Arizal teaches that the months
of Tamuz and Av correspond to the
eyes. The Imrei Noam zt’l writes
that this is to tell us that Hashem
is always watching over us. His
hashgachah never leaves us, not

even in Tamuz and Av, at the time of
the Churban, r’l.
Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz zy’a
(Toldos Yitzchak) teaches, “Each
year, during the days of the Three
Weeks (Bein HaMetzarim), a very
high level of chesed is revealed,
for it is known that it was all for
the good of Bnei Yisrael. Hashem
poured out His wrath on wood and
stone, and He didn’t destroy Bnei
Yisrael, chas ve’shalom. Immense
love was aroused upon them,
emanating from the uppermost,
high worlds. Therefore, every year,
once again, when these days arrive,
this immense love is aroused and
Hashem’s love and compassion
come to us and all of Bnei Yisrael.”
The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabba
23:1) states, “Hakadosh Baruch Hu
tells them, all the forty years that
you were in the desert, I protected

you, and you never had to run and
escape. I had your enemies fall
before you… There were many
snakes and scorpions in the desert,
as it states (Devarim 8:15) ‘snakes,
vipers and scorpions’, but I didn’t
allow them to harm you. Therefore,
Hakadosh Baruch Hu said to Moshe,
‘Write down their travels, where
Yisrael traveled in the desert, so
they will know about the miracles I
performed for them in the desert.”
The Ruzhiner zt’l said that his father,
Reb Shalom Shachna of Prohibitsh
zy’a, said that from the three
weeks, he knows how the yomim
noraim will be. And I say that the
Three Weeks are like the diamonds
that grow under the mountains
of darkness. Although there is
darkness, they shine brightly. When
Moshiach comes, and the moon will
shine as brightly as the sun shines,
the Three Weeks will be yomim

tovim. This is because the Three
Weeks correspond to the Shalosh
Regalim. Hashem yisbarach knows
that when I was young and I had
strength, each day of the Three
Weeks, I felt a new light. Chazal
(Brachos 60b) say that everything
Hashem does is for the good, and
their intention was regarding the
Three Weeks. These are days of
yeridah for Yisrael, but it is all for
the good.”