Is this depressing?

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Forum -> Yom Tov / Holidays -> Other special days

Is this depressing?

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Elfrida

Thu, Jul 27 2023, 2:48 pm

Does this strike you as depressing? We start the year in Elul, leading up to the Yamim Noraim. We spend a month doing chesbon hanefesh, hearing the shofar, and trying to change our ways. It culminates with the judgement of Rosh HaShana, and the final begging for forgiveness and longing for geula of Yom Kippur.

Then the year moves on, through chanukah candles, yetziat Mizraim, and Matan Torah. And the final day of the yeshiva year is today, Tisha b'Av, when we sit on the floor and mourn. Whatever we promised back in Elul - we failed. We're still here in galut.

It just seems such a negative way to end the year.

Java

Thu, Jul 27 2023, 2:52 pm

We're really not ending anything, though. The year is a cycle with ups and downs. You can't look at it in terms of beginnings or endings.
I heard a really nice idea from R' mordechai becher last night- so there are 10 haftorahs related to the idea of galus and geula that we read in the summer. The 3 weeks before tisha b'av are sad haftorahs, relating to ideas of galus etc. The 7 weeks after, beginning with shabbos nachamu, are ideas of starting over, improvement, the ultimate geula. And those 7 weeks culminate in Rosh Hashanah! Which is when we make a commitment for the future.
This all may not resonate with you but personally I loved this idea

Thisisnotmyreal

Thu, Jul 27 2023, 2:56 pm

Tisha b'av is preparation for the new year. (Da"ch)

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