The Hebrew Month of Tamuz
Tonight in Israel we enter the new month of Tammuz "Rosh Chodesh Tammuz" (Head of the Month)
This is the fourth month counting from Nisan and is called by this name "Tammuz" in the Tanakh (Jeremiah 39:2).
The name "Tammuz" originated in Babylon, and was associated in ancient times with a pagan Babylonian cult, as expressed in the verse (Ezekiel 8:14) "Behold, the women sat there and wept for Tammuz."
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz always consists of two days, since the previous month "Sivan" always has 30 days, and the month of Tammuz has 29 days, therefore, the month of Av that follows it in order has only one day of Rosh Chodesh.
The symbol for this month is "cancer" (crab), as that is the shape the constellations take during this month. Also, during this month, crab breeding increases in the seas due to the intense heat prevailing in the Northern Hemisphere at that time.
The Holy Zohar writes that the days of the months of Tammuz and Av are especially prone to danger, so one should try as much as possible to avoid situations that provoke it. (Since in the month of Tammuz, five calamities occurred in one day (they are found at the end of the text)
On the 3rd of Tammuz a great event occurred in nature, Joshua made the sun and the moon stop and continue to radiate their light for 36 consecutive hours in the same place, so that the people of Israel could take revenge on their enemies, as stated in the verse in Joshua 10-12,13.
"Then Yehoshua spoke to Hashem on the day that the Creator handed the Amorites over to the Children of Israel, and said in the presence of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Givon! and moon, over the Valley of Aialon. And the sun stood still and the moon remained in its place, until the nation had taken revenge on its enemies."
Five calamities that occurred on the same day:
(Mishnah Taanit 4,3)
-The First Tablets were broken when Moshe descended from Mount Sinai and saw the golden calf along with the accompanying rites.
-The offering of the daily sacrifice in the first Great Temple was suspended because the Cohanim could not find lambs to offer in sacrifice.
-A breach was opened in the city wall at the time of the Second Great Temple.
-At the time of the second Great Temple Apostumus, the wicked one burned the Torah.
-An idol was placed inside the Sanctuary.
We wish you all a happy month of Tammuz!
The Breslev Garden recommends: