The hands of man contain within them tremendous strength and power.
They are considered a means and gateway for entering the realm of faith and wisdom.
This is as in the verse regarding the hands of Moshe during the battle with Amalek: "and his hands were faithful", which Onkelos renders as: "spread out in prayer". Thus hands, faith and prayer have a connection.
When these hands are joined together - as in when clapping - they draw energy and life into the 5 lobes of the lungs.
To explain:
The prophet Yechezkel (Yechezkel 10:8) reveals a vision of the Cherubim in that "hands of man were under their wings". This is meant to reveal a connection between the concept of hands and wings.
Rebbe Nachman elaborates this connection, connecting the 5 "wings of the lungs" to the hands of man:
The sages call the lobes of the lungs wings primarily because they hover and blow cool air into the body, preventing the heat of the heart from drying out the entire body.
Furthermore they are the source of air pressure that eventually goes up into the mouth which then articulates and shapes this breath/wind into words of speech - namely those of prayer.
Also, there are specifically 5 lobes/wings of lungs corresponding to the 5 Books of the Chumash/Torah.
This shows that when used properly - as in prayer - speech can be the means to attaining and entering the realm of Torah safely (for intellectual study of the Torah alone without Emunah/Faith/Prayer can be misleading and dangerous).
The Cherubim had faces of human children with wings that were touching each other.
This is meant to signify the power of mankind:
By joining/clapping their hands in prayer they activate the "wings".
These wings then activate the 5 wings/lobes of the lungs to breathe in holy air into the mouth, which then forms the words of prayer.
With such prayer, a person can enter the realm of faith needed to properly activate the wisdom of the Torah - i.e. the 5 books of Moshe/Chumash.
(for more on these concepts please see: LIKUTEY MOHARAN LESSON 45, and listen to: BRESLOV THERAPY: LESSON 45)
When they entered and saw the 2 Cherubim on the Ark, they laughed and mocked the Jews, saying: "So this is what they are worshiping!".
They then removed the 2 Cherubim, putting them on a wagon, passing them through the streets for everyone to see, saying: "these Jews write in their Torah not to worship idols. But see what they themselves worship".
In truth, the Cherubim are simply an extension of the Ark, with the Jewish people commanded to place this Ark on the spot which Hashem designated as the direction for all Jews to face when praying to Hashem.
However, because of the positive power and benefit derived from the Cherubim and their significance, it leaves room for people to be misled with heretical ideology, as if the Cherubim/mankind and his hands have a power on their own.
But the truth is that the Cherubim signify that mankind can reach such high levels of holiness, closeness and awareness of Hashem and His Torah if their hands are used properly - i.e. extended and connected in prayer.
(for more on this concept please list to: THE WINGS OF TRUE SPEECH, and: FIXING THE BROKEN WINGS)
May we merit this Tish B'Av to reactivate and fix our "broken wings", using them properly in prayer, bringing the onset of the final redemption, rebuilding of the Third Temple, and the re-establishment of the 2 Cherubim and Holy Ark in the Holy of Holies, speedily in our days, Amen.
As it is an accepted custom to give charity on Tisha B'Av, especially to Torah scholars, to send support for needy and worthy families in Jerusalem on this important day, please follow this link:
May you be blessed with joy and redemption.
Thank you and Tizku LeMitzvot.
Meir Elkabas
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