The Talmud and Zohar teach that there are 10 types of song used in the makeup of the book of Psalms - the main expression of prayer and connection to Hashem.
This specific number of 10 indicates the root of these songs in the 10 Commandments, the 10 Sefiroth and the 10 Utterances of Hashem in the Creation of the world.
The 10 various types of song are meant to rebalance and re-align a person with all these categories of 10, even after having strayed so far from Hashem.
This applies even to the worst types of blemishes and sins - namely that of sexual impurity and immorality. More specifically, to the wasting of seed which is considered the worst of all sins.
The power of these 10 types of song is that they can retrieve the blemished seed and repair all damage caused by this, since this specific transgression causes a misalignment in all of Creation - more than any other sin.
This is more specifically repaired by 10 specific Psalms from the book of Tehillim (16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137 and 150) also known as the Tikkun HaKlali revealed by Rebbe Nachman.
However, this reparation obviously applies to the person who wants to repent. The regret of past actions is needed as the guarantee that a person is sincere in wanting to repair, "realign" and rectify any damage done due to his sins and blemishes.
(for more on these concepts please listen to: https://soundcloud.com/breslov-therapy/sets/likutey-moharan-205)
During the 3 weeks leading up to the 9th of Av - and even more intensely the first 9 days of the month of Av, we mourn over the destruction of our Holy Temple.
The Holy Temple represented and actually was the conduit of energy and bounty transmitted from the upper 9 Sefiroth down into this world - representing the 10th Sefirah of Malkhut.
The first 9 days of the month of Av represent the damage caused to the transmission of energy and bounty of the first 9 Sefirot culminating into Yesod - the 9th Sefirah.
The 10th day of Av represents the damage caused to this world in receiving this bounty. Thus the sages teach that several of the mourning conditions of the 9th of Av continue into the next day since the actual bulk of the destruction of the Temple took place then (we mourn on the 9th since that is when the enemies actually set fire to the Temple).
In our context, these 10 days correspond to the damage caused to the above alignment of all corresponding concepts of 10 (i.e. 10 types of song, 10 Commandments, 10 Sefirot and 10 Utterances) which are especially caused by wasted seed.
Thus the name of the month Av translates as "father" as if to connote the father who wasted the seed of his offspring.
However with the mourning we express and experience during these "10" days, we prepare ourselves to also feel regret for what we have done, that in turn is actually causing the delay of the rebuilding of our Holy Temple.
With this regret activated we can approach the 10 Psalms - the 10 types of Song - to activate rectification and realignment.
And it is our hope that this will transform the month of Av into "Menachem Av" - the consolation of the father [over his wasted seed].
The verse reads: "Tziyon will be redeemed through Mishpat (justice) and it's returnees through charity." (Isaiah 1:27)
Mishpat is a reference to 2 items where a person exercises justice:
- the study of Torah law
- self-examination also known as hitbodedut (personal prayer and meditation)
And charity is obviously acts of charity.
Thus the source for the early custom of increasing charity on public fast days such as the 9th of Av.
To send help and support to needy families residing in the holy city of Jerusalem, please follow this paypal link:
or by email: paypalmeir@gmail.com.
And may this Tisha B'Av be turned and transformed into a day of the highest levels of joy, Amen.
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