Dvar Torah for the 17th of Tamuz

Based on Likutey MoHaran II, Lesson #125

Today is the 17th of Tamuz, a fast day, the first day of the period known as Bein HaMitzarim (between distressful events), or "The Three Weeks." The Three Weeks ends with the Fast of Tisha b'Av (the ninth of Av).

The closing segment of the additional prayers said today (and other fast days as well) is:

The One Who answered Avraham Avinu on Mount Moriah will answer us.
The One Who answered Yitzchak his son when he was bound on the altar will answer us.
The One Who answered Yaakov when he was in Beit El will answer us.
The One Who answered Yosef when he was in prison will answer us.
The One Who answered our ancestors at the Red Sea will answer us.
The One Who answered Moshe at Chorev (Sinai) will answer us.
The One Who answered Aharon when he used the censer will answer us.
The One Who answered Pinchas when he emerged from the congregation will answer us.
The One Who answered Yehoshua at Gilgal will answer us.
The One Who answered Shemuel at Mitzpeh will answer us.
The One Who answered David and his son Shlomo in Jerusalem will answer us.
The One Who answered Eliyahu at Mount Carmel will answer us.
The One Who answered Elisha in Jericho will answer us.
The One Who answered Jonah in the fish's belly will answer us.
The One Who answered King Chizkiyahu when he was ill will answer us.
The One Who answered Chananya, Mishael and Azaryah will answer us.
The One Who answered Daniel in the lion's den will answer us.
The One Who answered Mordechai and Esther in Shushan will answer us.
The One Who answered Ezra in the Diaspora will answer us.
The One Who answered all the saints and pietists, the unblemished and honest individuals will answer us.

Well, one might ask, "Sure God saved all these people. They were big saints, prophets! But who am I that God should save me?!" In fact, someone actually posed this question to Rebbe Nachman:

"[Rebbe Nachman] once was advising a person about reciting Psalms, telling him that the main way to say Psalms is to say to them about oneself, to see how each verse is talking specifically about the person saying it...how each of the struggles and battles that King David asked to be rescued from, are the struggles and battles that one has to ask to be rescued from.

"The person asked how one can apply to himself those verses in which King David praises himself, such as, 'Protect my soul because I am a hasid' (86:2). The Rebbe responded that such verses one needs also to apply to himself. One has to judge oneself favorably...The Rebbe then offered the following two examples.

"Of Yehoshafat it is written, 'He lifted his heart in the ways of God' (2 Chronicles 17:6). He let himself feel somewhat good about the mitzvot that he was doing...

"And in the morning liturgy we deprecate ourselves, 'Who are we...what good are our lives...?' Then we encourage ourselves, mentioning our strong points, 'On the other hand, we are Your partners, descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov....'"

Especially at this time of the year, as the Bein HaMitzarim begins and Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur begin to appear on the horizon (just 10 weeks away!), one might be in danger of becoming discouraged and giving up the struggle too easily. Yes, one has to be honest and admit one's shortcomings and failures. After all, that's what got him in this mess–this exile– in the first place! However, being honest with oneself means acknowledging that not only is the cup half-empty, but half-full, as well.

The One Who answered all those saints will answer us, because even though we are not as saintly as they, we are saintly to a degree and we have even more saintliness within.

Have an easy fast–what's left of it.

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!