Rosh Chodesh: About the Month of Tammuz

About the Month of Tammuz – Zodiac sign: Cancer

by Teresa Quiroz, on behalf of Women of Holy Blossom

Tammuz (Tamuz) is the fourth of the 12 months of the Jewish calendar, counting from Nisan. It means “heat” like a glowing furnace, very appropriate (for this season) as the sun is more radiant and at its height. It also signifies “Transformation”.

The Mishna Taanit 4:3 (Oral Law) lists five tragic events of Jewish history that happened: #1. Moses smashed the first tablets on the 17 of Tammuz, on seeing the golden calf. #2. During the period of the first Temple, the besieged population of Jerusalem could not obtain an animal for the daily sacrifice. #3. The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans during the second Temple period.  #4. Apustamus, a Roman officer, burnt a Torah scroll. #5 an idol was placed in the holy Temple.

The limb of the month: The Right Hand, which has a practical application used to, celebrate Shabbat and to help us love G/d by following the 248 positive commandments.

The tribe associated with Tammuz is Reuven, the oldest son of Jacob, whose name means ‘see a son’, Genesis 29-32 and is derived from the sense of sight. Which leads to the attribute of the month: Vision. A sense of vision to bring peace into the world which can be transformed from mourning and sadness into joy and redemption.

וַתַּ֤הַר לֵאָה֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ רְאוּבֵ֑ן כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֗ה כִּֽי־רָאָ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ בְּעׇנְיִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה יֶאֱהָבַ֥נִי אִישִֽׁי׃

Leah conceived and bore a son, and named him Reuben;*Reuben Understood as “See a son.” for she declared, “It means: ‘יהוהhas seen*has seen Heb. ra’ah, connected with the first part of “Reuben.” my affliction’; it also means: ‘Now my husband will love me.’”*

The permutation of the month: HVHY (hey-vav-hey-yud), from the final letters of the passage in Esther (5:13)

וְכׇל־זֶ֕ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁוֶ֖ה לִ֑י בְּכׇל־עֵ֗ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙ אֶת־מׇרְדֳּכַ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֔י יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֥עַר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

zeHenenUshaveHleY, spoken by Haman. The order is the direct reverse of the Name’s regular form, YHVH.

Tammuz, means Transformation and Redemption. Why? Understanding that the previous month Sivan, which was considered the ‘Giver’ of the Torah when G/d gives the commandments to the Jewish people and Tammuz is the month considered the ‘Receiver’. It is when we truly apply the Torah. Moses went up the mountain on the 4^th month representing the “Receiver”.

Back to the Zodiac sign, Cancer (Crab) has a shell that hosts a body that grows and when the shell breaks metaphorically speaking ‘breaks the mold’. Meaning we too can change and transform. We too have ‘growth spurs’ not only of the body but spiritually. As we grow older we become smarter and (hopefully) wiser. Our bodies too during this month are experiencing the freedom of shedding “the outer shell” i.e. leaving our coats behind from the winter, freedom of our sins, from our animal soul, narcissism, heartbreak, hardship etc.

I wish you all a radiant and warm summer months.

Ken Yehi Ratzon!

Shacharit Service: Sunday, July 7, 2024, 9 am ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09
password: 667580

For upcoming dates and why Rosh Chodesh is special for women, see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/