The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

Hayom Yom 15 Menachem Av - The 15th of Av is superior to the 15th of other months


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אֵין אוֹמְרִים תַּחֲנוּן

Tachanun is omitted on this day.

רוֹשֵׁם אַאַמוּ"ר

My revered father, the Rebbe [Rashab] once wrote the following 

מַעֲלַת ט"ו בְּאָב עַל כָּל ט"ו בַּחֹדֶשׁ

about the superiority of the Fifteenth of Av over the fifteenth of other months:

שֶׁזֶּהוּ רַק הַשְּׁלֵמוּת בְּהַגִּלּוּי

Although the fifteenth of any month represents the completeness [of the moon] in a revealed way, 

אֲבָל מִכָּל מָקוֹם הִיא רַק בְּחִינַת מְקַבֵּל

the moon in those months is still only a passive recipient [of light from the sun].

אֲבָל בט"ו בְּאָב הָאוֹר בָּהּ בִּקְבִיעוּת

On the Fifteenth of Av, by contrast, its light is more lasting,

לְפִי שֶׁהָעֲלִיָּה הִיא לְפִי עֶרֶךְ עוֹצֶם הַיְרִידָה דְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָב

for its ascent [which is indicated by its waxing] is proportionate to the [preceding] drastic descent of Tishah BeAv[…].

וְזֶהוּ תָּשַׁשׁ כֹּחָהּ שֶׁל חַמָּה

This is the meaning of [the Talmudic statement that from the Fifteenth of Av], “the sun’s power is weakened.” 

עוֹבְדֵי כוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת מוֹנִים לְחַמָּה בִּישָׁא

The “idolaters reckon time according to the sun,” [which in this context serves as a Kabbalistic allusion to the level of evil personified by the sun],

וּבְט"ו תָּשַׁשׁ כו

whose power is weakened on the Fifteenth [of Av].

בְּמִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן מִזְּמַן הַבַּיִת שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְנָעִים לִשְׁלֹמֹה

If this applied in the era of the Beis HaMikdash, when [the idolaters] were subservient to King Shlomo, 

כָּל שֶׁכֵּן לֶעָתִיד

how much more certainly will it apply to the future generation

וְנָהֲרוּ אֵלָיו, בִּבְחִינַת בִּטּוּל לְגַמְרֵי

when “nations will stream” [to the Beis HaMikdash] in a state of utter self-effacement.

וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטּוּמְאָה אַעֲבִיר כו

For concerning that era there is a Divine promise that “I will banish the spirit of impurity from the world.” 

וּמֵעֵין זֶה בט"ו בְּאָב תָּשַׁשׁ כו

A foretaste of this occurs on the Fifteenth of Av, when the sun’s power is weakened.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef KatzmanBy Rabbi Yosef Katzman