It's Rosh Chodesh Tamuz

We have entered a new period — Chodesh Tamuz and soon the Three Weeks.

If you're like many other people, you might have mixed feelings about it. We have so much on our heart, so much that we are struggling with, who is in the mood of a sad month?

But the Three Weeks are not necessarily sad. They're intense, they're connecting, they're an opportunity.

"כל רודפיה הישיגוה בין המצרים"

"All her pursuers overtook her in between the narrow straits." (Eicha 1:13)

Avodas Yisrael writes in the name of the Maggid M'mezritz:

שהוא רמז לאנשים החפצים ומשתוקקים להתקרב אל הקב"ה להמליכו עליהם ולהדבק בו כראי, שבימי בין המצרים הזמן מסוגל שיוכלו להשיג משאלות לבם.

It is a hint to those who long to come closer to Hashem—to make Him King over their lives and to attach themselves to Him in a true and proper way. During the days of Bein HaMetzarim, this period is particularly auspicious, enabling them to attain the deepest yearnings of their hearts.

We are all pursuing greater levels. We are all yearning to be closer. This is the time!

I'd like to add a thought. So many times we want to grow, we are trying to become a better person. But we are waiting for the calm times. When things get easier then I'll have time to go to a shiur, to daven, to work on myself.

Perhaps the message is that anyone who is pursuing connection to Hashem, will achieve it in these tight days. We don't want the challenges, we don't want the constraints that surround us, but this very tightness, this internal or external pressure, will enable us to become the person we want to become.

"כל רודפיה הישיגוה בין המצרים"

We can end with the bracha of the Pachad Yitzchak (of Boyan) who said that there are 21 days of bein hamitzarim. Hashem will surely take our pain and turn it into the ach (gematria 21) of:

"אך טוב וחסד ירדפוני" "Only good and kindness pursue me." (Tehillim 23:6)

We will be pursued once again. We will be pursued by endless goodness and kindness and all the blessings that we await.

With sincere wishes for a meaningful, growth-filled, and goodness-filled month!

Yocheved

---

Let's Write!

1. Make a sketch of the walls that are constraining your life. In the inside of the walls fill it up with words describing the tightness you feel.

2. What growth, connection or greatness can come out of these constraints? In a different color, write it out in the space between the walls. Don't think deeply or practically, just write whatever comes to mind.

3. Read through your growth and summarize it into three words. Write an alpha-poem (acrostic) using those three words.

---

Shiva Asar B'Tamuz Class

Walls or Mirrors?

Learning to connect to yourself and others when the walls are blocking.

Monday - June 22 - ז תמוז

1:30 EST / 8:30 ILT

Sign up for the Shiva Asar B'Tamuz Class

---

Last Chance!

Are you passionate about spreading the light of Torah and therapeutic writing?

Our very precious and very powerful parsha book is soon going to print. This a special opportunity to spread this gift among the women of Klal Yisrael. Choose a parsha of a yartzeit or birthday and holy merits to the memory of a loved one or zechusim for those near and dear to you.

Contact us ASAP for sponsorship opportunities.

Maaser money may be used.