The Months of Tamuz and Av 12

The Four Kingdoms and the Root of the Churban

We are currently in the Three Weeks, reflecting on the Churban Beit HaMikdash (the destruction of the Holy Temple). To truly understand our work during this period, we must ask: What was the root cause of the Churban? How did it happen?

Most of us are familiar with the Four Galiyot (Exiles):

1. Bavel (Babylonia)

2. Madai (Medes/Persians)

3. Yavan (Greece)

4. Edom (The current, final exile)

The Imagery of the Non-Kosher Animals

In Midrash Rabbah (Vayikra 13:5), the Sages explain that the four animals possessing only one kosher sign correspond directly to these four empires:

• The Camel (Gamal): Represents Bavel. It chews its cud (internal sign) but does not have split hooves.
• The Rabbit (Arnevet): Represents Yavan. It is called gera because it "drags" (garar) another kingdom after it.
• The Badger (Shafan): Represents Madai. It similarly drags another kingdom.
• The Pig (Chazir): Represents Edom.

והוא גרה לא יגר – "But he does not chew his cud." (Leviticus 11:7)

The pig only has the external sign (split hooves) but lacks the internal sign. It is called Chazir because in the end, it will return (lehachzir) the kingdom to its rightful place by bringing Mashiach, as it says: "And saviors shall ascend Mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau, and the kingdom shall be Hashem's" (Ovadia 1:21).

External vs. Internal Sins

Why are the first three animals listed in one verse, while Edom is placed in a verse by itself? The Midrash explains: שקולה כנגד שלשתן — Edom weighs as much as the other three combined.

This weight directly parallels the Three Cardinal Sins vs. the singular sin of the final exile:

The Modern Geopolitical Parallel

Historically and culturally, these traits persist:

• Bavel is rooted in the Middle East/Arab world, where the camel remains a cultural symbol.
• Edom is rooted in Western culture, heavily associated with the pig (e.g., dietary staples like bacon and ham). Interestingly, the pig represents the ultimate spiritual barrier in Eastern theology as well, where rumors even exist of military deterrents using pigskin.
• The Core Difference: The First Temple fell to the Babylonians (the camels), while the Second Temple fell to Rome/Western Culture (the pigs).

The Verdict of the Gemara: Open vs. Hidden

The Gemara (Masechet Yoma) records a profound insight from Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Elazar:

• The Early Generations (First Temple): Nitgala avonam, nitgala kitzam — Their sins were out in the open (idolatry, murder, immorality), so the end of their exile was openly revealed (70 years).
• The Later Generations (Second Temple): Lo nitgala avonam, lo nitgala kitzam — Their sins were hidden, so the end of their exile remains hidden.

This is the distinction between Chitzoniyut (externals) and Pnimiyut (internals).

A Medical Analogy: A person can have severe psoriasis. It looks terrible and is externally unappealing, but it isn't life-threatening. Another person can look perfectly healthy, doing push-ups and glowing on the outside, but suffers from a hidden, internal ailment that is fatal.

The Vilna Gaon on the Power of Heart

The Vilna Gaon (Gra) explains that the First Temple generation committed severe, open sins, תלו בטחונם בהשם — but they still relied on God. Their actions were terrible, but their hearts remained fundamentally connected through faith. They possessed Bitachon (trust in God).

Conversely, the Second Temple generation looked structurally and behaviorally righteous on the outside—they learned Torah and performed deeds of kindness—but רחמנא ליבא בעי (Hashem wants the heart), and their hearts were corrupt.

Bitachon: The Core of the Torah

What do the kosher signs actually teach us? The Vilna Gaon notes:

• Chewing the Cud (Ma'aleh Gera): Represents Histapkut (contentment). It is the trait of being happy with what one has, constantly chewing and appreciating the same spark of life.
• Split Hooves: Represents a non-predatory nature. Kosher animals do not have claws to attack or tear others apart.

Therefore, the ultimate sign of Kashrut is a sign of Emunah (faith).

The Vilna Gaon writes in his commentary on Mishlei (22:19):

עיקר נתינת התורה לישראל, כדי שישימו בטחונם בהשם

"The primary reason the Torah was given to Israel was so that they would place their trust in Hashem."

Bitachon is the Klal—the all-inclusive principle behind every single commandment.

• We eat kosher to remember God provides our food.
• We check for shatnez to remember God provides our clothing.
• The Ra'avad (quoted by Rav Yerucham Levovitz) notes that marital laws (Taharat HaMishpacha) remind a person that God granted them their spouse.

The entire theme of the Torah is realizing that everything comes from God, and we must rely entirely on Him.

The Ultimate Punchline

Why was the Second Temple destroyed if the people were learning Torah and doing acts of kindness? It was destroyed because of Sinat Chinam (baseless hatred) and Mechoser Bitachon (a lack of trust in God).

How are the two connected?

כל השנאה והקנאה ממנו — All hatred and jealousy stem directly from a lack of Bitachon.

If you truly realize that Hashem is in total control of the universe, and that no one can touch what is designated for you, you cannot harbor jealousy. If you lack Bitachon, you view others as obstacles to your success, which breeds hatred.

The work of the Three Weeks is to shift from the external mask of righteousness to the internal reality of perfect trust in God, thereby curing the baseless hatred that keeps us in exile.