The Months of Tamuz and Av 21

Daily Bitachon: Erev Tisha B'Av Message

Welcome to Daily Bitachon for our Erev Tisha B'Av message.

As we prepare for Tisha B'Av, one of our essential obligations is to trace the roots of our exile—to look into the sources and understand why we fell and went into Galut.

1. The Root Cause: Disdain for Torah

In Midrash Rabbah (in the introductions, and specifically where Rav Huna and Rav Yirmeya quote Shmuel bar Yitzchak), we find a striking statement:

Hashem was willing to forgo punishment for the three cardinal sins—idolatry, promiscuity, and bloodshed—but He did not forgo punishment for the disdain of Torah (Miyuso shel Torah).

This is explicitly derived from the prophecy in Yirmiyahu:

"For what reason did the land perish..."

(Yirmiyahu 9:11)

The verse does not say the land was destroyed because of idolatry, immorality, or murder. Hashem explicitly answers: "...Because they have forsaken My Torah."

The Midrash continues in the name of Rav Chiyya bar Abba, quoting the verse: "They have forsaken Me, and My Torah they did not keep" (Yirmiyahu 16:11). Upon which Hashem says:

הַלְוַאי אוֹתִי עָזָבוּ וְתוֹרָתִי שָׁמָרוּ

"If only they had forsaken Me, but still kept My Torah! For the light within it would have brought them back to the good."

Resolving the Contradiction

This presents an obvious problem: The Gemara in Yoma (9b) explicitly states that the First Beit HaMikdash was destroyed because of the three cardinal sins! Furthermore, these three sins carry the death penalty—how could neglecting Torah study be considered a worse trigger for destruction?

Rav Aharon Kotler zt"l (Mishnat Rabbi Aharon, Vol. 1, p. 28) answers:The Power of Remedy: The three cardinal sins are undeniably grave. However, as long as the Jewish people engaged in Torah study, Hashem delayed their punishment. Why? Because the Torah possesses an inherent light that eventually guides a person back to Teshuva (repentance).

1. Loss of the Shield: Once they abandoned and held disdain for Torah study, they discarded the very tool that could save them. Without the antidote, their sins stood unaddressed, and their doom was sealed.

Rav Elchanan Wasserman's Mashal:

In warfare, two armies may trade blows, but if one side manages to destroy the enemy's armory or airfields, the target becomes completely defenseless.

We are in a constant war with the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination). Hashem created the Yetzer Hara, but He created Torah as its antidote ("Bara'ti Yetzer, Bara'ti Torah Tavlin"). Abandoning Torah means disarming ourselves in the middle of battle.

2. The Battle with the Sar shel Esav

The ongoing historical struggle between Yaakov and Esav is captured in the all-night wrestling match between Yaakov Avinu and the guardian angel of Esav (Sar shel Esav).

• The Timing: Sefarim point out that this wrestling match took place on the eve of Tisha B'Av.
• The Remint in the Text: The Torah notes that the angel injured the גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה (Gid HaNasheh):
• גִּיד (Gid) hints at the three fast days:
• ג (Gimmel) = Tzom Gedaliah (3rd of Tishrei)
• י (Yud) = Asara B'Tevet (10th of Tevet)
• ד (Dalet) = Shiva Asar B'Tammuz (17th of Tammuz, the 4th month)
• את (HaNasheh) acronym for Tisha B'Av. תשעה אב

Why Attack Yaakov?

Notice that the angel did not attack Avraham (who represents Chesed) or Yitzchak (who represents Tefillah). He attacked Yaakov, who represents Torah. Esav's angel targeted the ultimate weapon of the Jewish people.

Yaakov's Body (Talmidei Chachamim) --> Could not harm

Yaakov's Thighs (Tomchei D'Oraita) --> Successfully struck

As the Chafetz Chaim explains (citing the Zohar), the legs/thighs symbolize Tomchei D'Oraita—the supporters who uphold the Torah. The angel realized he could not destroy the Talmidei Chachamim directly, so he tried to weaken the supporters' appreciation for Torah.

The Modern Reframe

• Current Support: Baruch Hashem, in our generation, we are witnessing unprecedented support for Torah learning globally, with initiatives raising hundreds of millions of dollars to sustain Eretz Yisrael's centers of learning.
• Rav Yaakov Hillel's Insight: When governments reduce funding for Torah institutions, people naturally worry. But Rav Yaakov Hillel offers a profound reframe: Hashem wants the Torah to be sustained purely by those who cherish it—the Charedim v'Dvar Hashem. He is elevating the purity and stature of Torah support.

3. Mourning and the Absence of Torah

Why did Esav wait to attack Yaakov?

יִקְרְבוּ יְמֵי אֵבֶל אָבִי וְאַהַרְגָה אֶת יַעֲקֹב אָחִי

"The days of mourning for my father draw near; then I will kill my brother Yaakov."

(Bereshit 27:41)

Classic commentators explain: As long as Yaakov was immersed in Torah study, the rule of "Hakol kol Yaakov" applied, and Esav had no power over him.

Esav specifically waited for a time of mourning (Aveilut), because a mourner is forbidden from studying Torah. He calculated that during an absence of Torah study, Yaakov would be vulnerable to attack.

On Tisha B'Av—the ultimate day of national mourning—we do not engage in standard Torah study. Yet on this very day of darkness, the light of Mashiach is born to turn our mourning into joy.

4. The Halacha of Netilat Yadayim

There are only two days in the year when we do not wash our hands up to the wrist for morning Netilat Yadayim (washing only up to the knuckles): Tisha B'Av and Yom Kippur.

Conclusion

Our goal this Tisha B'Av is to bridge these two realities: to transform the heavy, vulnerable energy of Tisha B'Av into the pure, triumphant elevated state of Yom Kippur.

By recognizing that Torah learning is our ultimate lifeline and protective weapon, may we strengthen our dedication to Limud Torah and its support, and merit seeing the ultimate transformation of this day into a festival of comfort and redemption.