Parashat Pinchas

- 0041

By: Rabbi Avraham Levychaim

We are now beginning the Three Weeks, which are called Ben Hametzarim. Why are they so called?

The source of this name is a Passuk in Eicha:

“Kol Rodfeha Hisiguha Ben Hametzarim”.
The simple meaning of the Passuk is that whoever chases after her (Kehal Yisrael) reached her in narrow straits.

Rashi brings a Midrash which says that “Ben Hametzarim” refers to the Three Weeks. That’s why it is a time of suffering and tragedy for Kehal Yisrael.

Our Chachamim point out to us that there is nothing negative in Jewish religion; we have such a great G-d that nothing could be negative. There is a deeper way to understand the Passuk, which changes our perspective on the Three Weeks.

We could read the word “Rodfeha” as two words: “Radaf Hashem”, which means that whoever chases after Hashem (G-d) could reach Him in these times.

These are days in which we realize that our deeds have consequences, and by uplifting ourselves to different deeds, we change our relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The more we realize that our deeds could lead us to such terrible consequences, the greater motivation we will have to come back to Hakadosh Baruch Hu and do greater Teshuva.

It is interesting to note that our Chachamim teach us that there is a parallel between the 21 days of Ben Hametzarim and the days between Rosh Hashana through Hoshana Rabba. Reaching the highlight of Selicha and Mechila of Hoshana Rabbah is dependent upon the understanding of the depth of the Churban and what its causes were.

The greater the impact that the tragedies of these days impress on us, this would result in a stronger Teshuka (desire) to do Teshuva and bring the Geula and a greater Simchat Torah.

Shabat Shalom

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