Our focus will be on healing the five calamities that took place and Healing Trauma in Judaism 17 Tammuz, a day of fasting that ushers in The Three Weeks. This period is also known as Bein Hametzarim, which translates to "Between the Narrow Straits." A time designated for reflection and introspection. In the last post, we brought awareness to the parts that find themselves in restricted, narrow places. Now, we will address the Great Expansiveness of healing brought on by the work done from the Narrow Straits as the verse states; "From the narrow straits, I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me with great expansiveness.” - Psalms (118.5)
“מִן-הַמֵּצַר קָרָאתִי יָּהּ, עָנָנִי בַּמֶּרְחָב יָהּ - תהילים (קי"ח, ה')-.
This post is inspired by a class given by Rabbi YY Jacobson, which you can access here. Three Weeks Class: The Five Calamities of 17 Tamuz -- Five Symptoms of Trauma
Mishna States;
ֲחֲמִשָּׁה
דְּבָרִים אֵרְעוּ אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז וַחֲמִשָּׁה בְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָב. בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ הַלּוּחוֹת וּבָטַל הַתָּמִיד וְהֻבְקְעָה הָעִיר וְשָׂרַף אַפּוֹסְטוֹמוֹס אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וְהֶעֱמִיד צֶלֶם בַּהֵיכָל
"Five things happened to our forefathers on the seventeenth of Tammuz, the tablets were broken, the continual offering was abolished, the city was breached, Apostomos burned the Torah, and he placed an idol in the Temple."-Talmud, Tractate Ta'anit 28b
The Breaking of the Tablets of the Covenant
The Korban Tamid - Continual Offering was abolished
The Walls of Jerusalem were breached.
Apostomos burned the Torah
He placed an Idol in the Holy Temple (Heichal - Inner Chamber)
The Tablets
Stone tablets with engraved letters symbolize a unity where the letters and the stone are one. Even if broken, the letters remain; when pieced together, the original message is restored. Similarly, our innocence, though shattered by trauma, remains within us waiting to be recognized and revealed.
"So I grasped the two Tablets and threw them from my two hands, and I smashed them before your eyes." - Deuteronomy 9:17
In the Torah, Moshe reassures the people that the brokenness was their understanding but not their reality for their innocence remained intact and One with their Essence, like the tablets. Their intrinsic value and identity persist despite their brokenness. In fact, the brokenness was “before their eyes.” It is what they perceived, but in reality, their essence remained whole. Similarly, the innocent essence of the trauma victim remains complete. Even if you see yourself as broken, it is only “before your eyes.” Your innocent essence is engraved. It’s a part of you. It IS you and can never be separated from you or erased. Its value cannot be diminished, for just as the broken tablets were gathered and put in the Ark and placed in the Holy of Holies, so too has your innocence.
The Continual Offering
Consistency builds strength and success in life and relationships, not through grand gestures but through small, steady actions. Trauma can disrupt this consistency due to factors like hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, and avoidance behaviors. It’s essential to show yourself patience and compassion, understanding that these coping mechanisms were developed for survival. By taking small, manageable steps each day, you can rebuild your sense of self and enjoy productivity.
The Wall
Rebuilding yourself involves understanding and reinforcing your boundaries. Each small act of self-care contributes to personal growth and helps define who you are, making it clearer where others end, and you begin. Your inner voice, though initially faint, grows stronger with each step toward self-awareness and self-care. Remember, your uniqueness is vital to the world. That’s why Hashem put His energy into you. Your contribution to the world is one of a kind. Recognizing your value is essential to fulfilling your purpose, including your contribution to the world and healthy, deep, meaningful relationships with your Creator and His children.
The Torah
The desecration of the Torah was an attempt to undermine its eternal values and faith. However, the essence of the Torah and its teachings remain intact. Similarly, your core self remains unscathed and is capable of processing trauma. Through kindness, love, and compassion, you can build meaningful, safe relationships, and intimate connections, creating a dwelling for revealed Goodness in the world.
The Heichal - Your Inner Chamber
Replace the internalized negative images and coping mechanisms with self-compassion and acceptance. Understand that these behaviors were survival strategies during times of trauma. By nurturing yourself with patience and understanding, you create space within to develop healthy connections and behaviors. Embrace your inner strength and your core essence, and remove the foreign images that no longer serve you. Replace them with the Infinite light by allowing your true self to shine, inevitably guiding others toward their own healing.
Thank you for being part of this journey😌.
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