Thursday, July 26, 2012

Devarim - Where is His place?

Why do we always read Devarim on Parshas Chazon - the Shabbos before Tisha B'av? Why do we comfort mourners with a reference to a consolation from Hashem as 'hamakom' - the place? Why do the angels search for Hashem's 'place?' What is the concept of the word "איכה" - in our parsha, in the story of Adam, in the book of Lamentations? What is the connection between Adar and Av? What is the connection between crying and laughing?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 24:13

3 comments:

in the vanguard said...

I heard it said, but no not its source, that up until the month of Av are the happiest days of the year.

How so, if those days happen to be in the 3 weeks?

Because when Adar comes along, we are told that these are days to start מרבים בשמחה. Hence from then on we always wax in happiness. Only when Av comes by are we told to be ממעט בשמחה. That is, until then nobody told us to stop adding in happiness. The reversal takes place from Av and on.

Lisa M. said...

We cry together for the ways in which we reject Hashem's love and mercy but rejoice knowing that He is always reaching down to us to lift us up from our misery. You had me crying too. Thank you for sharing your deep love of God and of Israel. It is very moving!

Ari Goldwag said...

Vanguard, I've heard of such a thing, but I do not understand it, for clearly we have increased in joy by the 15th of Av, which is a yom tov of sorts. The facts on the ground do not seem to support the idea as you quoted it.

Lisa, thanks for your comments and feedback!