""And behold, there the women sat weeping for Tammuz" (Ezekiel 8:14).
We have already entered the three weeks and entered Gaza, and we have already lost a soldier in this unnecessary war, and we have lost a citizen who went to make the soldiers happy, and we have already seen miracles for hundreds and thousands.
But we still cry.
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Those women wept over Tammuz – the sun as an idol called Tammuz, but we weep over the exile that continues and continues and insists on reminding us of its oppressive presence, even as we insist on feeling "independent" and at the beginning of redemption (at least).
Women are exempt from studying Torah. Why? Because they are busy with practical life. With physical needs.
What makes them cry Tammuz and how can we fix that corruption that the prophet Ezekiel talks about, and how does it relate specifically to women?
Again, preoccupation with material things can lead a person to mistakenly think that they receive their abundance from nature, from the sun. That is why these women weep over Tammuz because they believe (mistakenly) that their material things depend on the sun, which produces the cycle of life in nature.
Who provides the income?
Our role is to remind ourselves, even though we are not obligated to study Torah, that everything we receive does not come from the forces of nature, but from God, the Blessed One, who created the sun, the moon, the wind, the earth, and the sea.
Take an example from everyday life: Sometimes we receive an unexpected sum of money, such as a bonus from work, a sudden payment of compensation, an inheritance, or a Torah victory. There are cases in which this sum of money is successfully used for the benefit of the home and family, and there are cases, neither our nor yours, in which this sum finds its way to finance medications and medical treatments, and these things are well known.
The reason must be sought where the faith is.
When we believe that everything comes from God and that He is the source of blessing, and that God's blessing will enrich us, then the money finds its way to blessed uses. But when we believe that the boss is the one who grants the bonus, that we obtained the money through our wisdom, that an iron dome is the one that protects us, that the rain is the one that ripens the grain, evaporates the water, and brings rain, then the money finds its way to undesirable matters.
A Jew must know, remember, and always believe that there is a master of the world and that he is the one who manages matters.
A woman who runs her household (most Haredi households are run by the woman) needs to remember where her income comes from and make sure it comes in a kosher way according to the Torah, according to the Halacha, and then she has no need to cry over the Tammuz. She has no need to cry, because she knows that everything is in the will of God, blessed be He, who loves His children and wants the best for them.
When a woman recognizes that "for everything is from you" and knows the meaning of the rest of the verse, "From you we have given you," when a woman supports her husband's study of Torah and the education of her children in giving charity, she is rewarded with God returning to her a double portion of blessing, success, and contentment.
Promises to cover your head
I was sitting in the living room of my friend Orna Masavion's luxurious home after a dance class in which we had danced together. The private parking lot, the luxurious dining room, the silver menorah as tall as an average person, and the other decorative objects that surrounded me did not prepare me for what I was about to hear.
I actually came to recruit Orna to join the circle of friends of the 'Solam' organization. I wanted her to help children in need, and it turned out that I was exposed to the help she received from the 'God' when her own children were in need.
After the housekeeper served us rose tea in porcelain cups and gold spoons, we settled down and began small talk. I knew in advance that before we got down to business, we had to create a "supportive work environment," beyond dance steps in the studio.
And here's what Orna told me, trying unsuccessfully to hold back her tears as her story drew nearer to its end.
""It was on the holiday of Passover more than a dozen years ago. The boys were really little kids. We went to the Sea of Galilee and after playing a little on the beach, they asked to get on our fishing boat, with which they sailed out to sea. There was nothing alarming about it. For a moment we did not anticipate the storm that would shake the calm waters of the Sea of Galilee, which were smooth as a mirror.
""Shortly afterwards, the famous east wind of the Sea of Galilee began to blow, the boat that had been in sight completely disappeared. Thus, in one moment, the children disappeared with the secure and equipped boat. A feeling of helplessness that is indescribable. Darkness fell. The hours ticked by. Rescue teams searched. Searchlights were fired. We spared no means to find our children. But to no avail.
At one point we considered using our connections to bring in naval forces, until suddenly the chip fell on me. I realized what I had to do.
""I left the hustle and bustle of the search and went into a back room in the lifeguard's hut on the beach. I closed my eyes and talked to him. Yes, Miri. What you hear. I opened my mouth and spoke to God in a mix of tears and broken words.
Give me back my children safe and sound and I promise you I will start covering my head from now on.
""Not even an hour passed and the children were found huddled on a life raft, exhausted and shivering from the cold, but, surprisingly, healthy and unharmed. That's what the doctors and rescue forces who were called to the scene said. They held the life raft and whistled over and over again, hoping someone would hear them. This someone heard my prayer and saved them"...
Years have passed since then, and the sight of that night never leaves her memory. She has a headscarf on her head. Not just any headscarf, but a wig. If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I would have had a hard time believing this incredible story.
A completely unnecessary war
Women are anxious for their husbands, mothers are anxious for the fate of their children, and an entire nation is anxiously following the reports from the front.
The fall of First Sergeant Eitan Barak, the late, brings sadness to an entire nation that fears for the fate of the fighters who risk their lives so that we can live on this stretch of land.
But for what? To please the Gentiles? To gain "fair" headlines in the international media? (No one dreams of flattering headlines).
Here are some things that the Lubavitcher Rebbe said exactly 32 years ago this month – the month of Tammuz during the occupation of Beirut, during Operation Peace for Galilee.
""...Since we are inside the city of Beirut, it is clear that we can make a "mound" of the entire area where the terrorists are, without advancing even a single soldier into this area. It is enough to announce 5 minutes before the operation, and anyone who wants to can evacuate and move to the other side of Beirut, or leave Beirut altogether.".
""And in this way, they can complete the operation in its entirety, without losing even a single Israeli life, and even without any injuries, and what's more: there will be no need to harm even the Gentiles, or even the PLO members - when they are convinced that this is not an empty threat, but that they do intend to make a "mound" out of the area where they are!
""And not to behave as they behaved in previous wars - even though they saw obvious miracles in the war, in which the opposing side suffered a crushing defeat, politically they made it a victory for themselves - that's how it was after each of the wars! And the opposing side hopes that this will happen this time too, may God have mercy on them, and the reason for this hope on their part is - because those who caused this trouble in the past are interfering in it now as well, and unfortunately, they are considering their own opinion, and not only as they consider the opinion of the minority, but are even thinking of acting this way in practice!""
Part of the column is adapted from the talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
• The writer is the owner of "My Choice", an event host, lecturer and radio broadcaster: [email protected]
