Word of the Month

A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem...

Last op for Kiddush L'vana this month is Motza'Sh Nachamu, eve of the 14th of Menachem Av. Most people will have said K.L. after 9Av or sooner, but if you missed it, this Motza"Sh is the last time for this month.

Halachic noon on the 10th of Av, and then Shabbat Nachamu, and then TU b'Av (Sunday night - Monday) combine to change the mood of the month drastically. What happened to make that so? Was the Sin of the Spies repaired? Was the Beit HaMikdash rebuilt? Not yet, but the mood swing is based on HOPE. And promise for the future. And the prophecies of NECHAMA, comfort. And the realization that we have it within our power to not only snap out of the Tish'a b'Av mood, but we can change the nature of 9Av and its partners by becoming better individual Jews and by becoming a better Jewish nation.

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