Published:
January 15, 2014
Originally recorded:
July 25, 2004
The 9th of Av is typically understood as a day of mourning the destruction of the Temple, but in this powerful lecture the Rav reveals a completely new understanding of the 9th of Av as our opportunity to entirely convert negativity and chaos to positivity and opportunities to transform our nature.
The Ninth of Av is the one day of the year when the negative force kabbalists call the Opponent rules for an entire 24 hour period. The Opponent is not a demon or devil, but a negative force of consciousness whose sole nature is receiving, chaos and selfishness. Many chaotic events have occurred on this day throughout history, but through prayer, reading the biblical scroll of Lamentations and additional kabbalistic tools, we can uproot this force of negativity and transform it to positivity.