[Jesus said:] I and my Father are one.
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Jesus answered them, Many good works have
I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying,
For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou,
being a man, makest thyself God.
John 10.30f
The article below is a full reproduction of the Parsha Tisha B'Av (The Ninth
of Av) written by Rabbi Heshy Grossman. It is reproduced in full below,
with my comments in gray boxes. The original article should
be available from
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/parsha/dimension/. Note
that permission is given to reproduce this article if the notice at the bottom is left attached.
The primary purpose for my reproduction of this article is to provide a reference
to the traditional Jewish
understanding of the word  (Even, Stone) as representing the union
of the words Father and Son (see below).
But the article contains many other significant insights, and gives examples
of typical Rabbinical reasoning based on the Hebrew alphabet. Reproduction of it on my site allows me
to comment on it in context, and to protect against its loss, since links on the web change every day.
| My comments in gray boxes like this one. -- R. A. McGough
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The Weekly Parsha: A New Dimension
by Rabbi Heshy Grossman
TISHA B'AV
The Sages, who see in the first words of Breishis the entirety of Jewish history, discuss as well the
origin of Messiah, whose appearance will reintroduce the world to the spirit of its Creator.
"....V'Ruach Elokim Merachefes Al Pnei HaMayim - this is the spirit of Moshiach...." (Breishis Rabbah 2:5)
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This is truly an astounding insight. It coheres perfectly with Romans 8.9 which identifies
the Spirit of Christ with the Spirit of God, saying "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
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The spirit of G-d is manifest immediately after the darkness and chaos of "Tohu VaVohu,
V'Choshech Al Pnei Tehom" (Breishis 1:2) and in a similar vein, the revelation of the
Messiah is destined for a day that begins with suffering and grief - "On Tisha B'Av the Messiah is
born." (Yerushalmi Berachos)
Apparently, it is darkness and pain that produces the ultimate redemption. In our shiur this week,
we will explain why this is so.
1
This month is referred to as Av, and it is a name that is quite puzzling. What is the connection between this
month of destruction and a father who produces offspring?
Let us first try to define the word Av.
Av is spelled 'Aleph' - 'Bais', for this is the beginning of the proper Seder in life.
When things begin thus, all of life continues in a productive and worthwhile manner, and
the ongoing process of Divine revelation continues its uninterrupted growth.
This true beginning is the basis of all existence, and the foundation of our world.
It is the 'Even HaRoshah' (Zechariah 4:7) - the rock of creation. Upon this altar, Avraham
Avinu offers his son Isaac as a sacrifice to G-d, and it this sanctity that subsequently pervades
the Holy Temple.
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This Even HaRoshah brought forth by Zerubbabel seems to be a
prophecy of the Bible Wheel
(cf. The Divine Seal and Capstone of God's Word).
Note that the Wheel is built upon the 22nd Letter Tav signifying the Cross of
Christ, which integrates with the tradition concerning the sacrifice of Isaac in
Genesis 22, the Genesis of the Cross.
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The word 'Even' is also rooted in the 'Aleph' - 'Bais', with the all-encompassing 'Nun' that is
the middle of the alphabet immediately following - and it alludes as well to the 'Av' and 'Ben' -
father and son.
"MiSham Ro'eh Even Yisrael" - this [Even] is an acronym - 'Av' and 'Ben' - fathers and sons, Ya'akov
and his children." (Rashi, Breishis 49:24)
This is the insight encoded in the word Even, Stone:
Note that the stone results when the
Father and the Son share the same Beyt (House) - the Father and the Son share the same dwelling, as
it is written (Colossians 2.9): "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.".
This is part of the fundamental insight into the meaning of
Spoke 2 (cf. The Second Commandment).
It is interesting that the Jews took up stones to stone Him
when He declared His Unity with the Father.
These ideas also appear in the word play of
John the Baptist in Matthew 3.9: "And think not to say within yourselves, We have
Abraham to our father (av): for I say unto you, that God is able of
these stones (avenim) to raise up
children (benim) unto Abraham."
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In the language of Chazal - stones are the building blocks of language, each 'Even'
being a letter, while 'Batim' connote their formation into words. The message is the same:
it is only through this father, or this stone, that something of lasting substance can be produced.
The Torah describes one particular stone as being strong enough to support a lasting edifice -
"Even Mo'asu HaBonim Haysa L'Rosh Pinah - the stone the builders despised has
become the cornerstone." (Tehillim 118:22)
This verse refers to David HaMelech, the brother whom noone deemed worthy. It
is this initial despair that sparks his ultimate rise, and it is here that the Messiah is born.
Let us now explain.
2
When all of life is arranged in the proper order, this world is connected to its Creator,
revealing in absolute harmony the framework of a higher dimension. This is
a 'Chibur' - 'Ches', 'Beis', 'Reish'. But, if this order is distorted, the world
devolves towards destruction, and 'Churban' - 'Ches', 'Reish', 'Beis' - is the natural result.
This idea is highlighted in Megilas Eichah. While the first chapter follows the order
of the alphabet, the subsequent change in order highlights the particular cause that stands at
the root of all the day's woes.
"Said Rava in the name of Rebbe Yochanan: Why does the letter 'Peh' precede the "Ayin'?
Because of the Meraglim, who related with their mouths [B'FiHem] what they had not seen with
their eyes [B'Ayneihem]." (Sanhedrin 104b)
It seems puzzling that the sin of the spies is attributed to this seemingly minor fault.
Was it giving precedence to hastily spoken words that defines their sin? Was it not
that they had lied, denying the goodness of the land, that is their primary sin?
Apparently, Chazal are teaching us the hidden cause of all falsehood, and the reason our Temple
remains lost to this day.
Man's words are an expression of his consciousness and perception, a means of relating
his own view of life. Once these ideas are crystallized in his mind, with a coherent worldview
established, all subsequent revelations are compartmentalized into the structure that he has
already established. From this point on, he sees only what he wants to see.
Here's an example: As a young infant, a human being first begins to grasp his surroundings by
learning to identify a few familiar images; his mother's face, his own crib, his siblings.
As he grows, and as his mind continues to develop, he slowly begins to comprehend ever more;
traveling the world around him, and finding his way with ease. For this reason, modern
man has few existential problems, as he pretends to understand the mysteries of life. In
this way, he lives out the balance of his days, comfortable with his own self, and blissfully
unaware of any higher existence.
Oblivious to any deeper sort of truth, there is nothing left to learn, and any heavenly lesson G-d
wishes to send simply glides off his impenetrable exterior.
This is 'Peh Kodem L'Ayin' - the mouth precedes the eye.
His worldview already established, from this point on, he will see what he wishes to see.
In the ideal order of things, this process should work in reverse, and the 'Ayin' would precede
the 'Peh'. In our own terms, this idea indicates than man's conceptions should originate
outside himself, and he begins his study of the world with an empty slate,
waiting patiently to see what G-d is destined to show him.
With this trait perfected, he merits a higher vision, and three times a year he goes up to Jerusalem, to see and to be seen. This is the Mitzva of Re'iah - alluded to in the very name of this city - "B'Har Hashem YiRa'eh" (Breishis 22:14)
In a sense, his life begins with Tohu VaVohu, for only after he recognizes the limits and futility of his own perception, is he worthy of 'VaYehi Or'. With his vision now perfected, his words take on new meaning, and the 'Peh' will subsequently speak words that man is meant to deliver.
***
In a world of chaos and turmoil, man has no choice but to turn his hopes towards a distant horizon. In this faraway dimension, beyond the gaze of mortal man, he sees the promise of a more wholesome existence.
With the Temple destroyed, and the world in disarray, we too can recognize the loneliness and despair of a world lined with darkness.
With this sense of desperation, and the knowledge that we are left with only one place to turn, we recover the stone that supports the Bais HaMikdash, the building blocks of existence.
We mourn in silence, waiting to be seen.
On Tisha B'Av the Messiah is born...
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End of Rabbi Heshy Grossman's article. Note that the copyright below applies only to my own work.
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