Tamuz 21 - כא תמוז

Today is the 21st day of Tammuz.

The Rebbe brings down the instruction that we do not make the blessing of Shehecheyanu between the Three Weeks. That is, during the period between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B'Av, we refrain from saying the Shehecheyanu blessing, which is usually recited for a new fruit, a new garment, or other occasions. This applies even on Shabbos, so even if Shabbos falls during the Three Weeks, we still do not make the blessing of Shehecheyanu. Essentially, this means we avoid new fruits or new items that would require the blessing during this time.

The Rebbe brings down the verse, "And they shall make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them"—meaning, among each and every one of Israel. The word "among them" is interpreted as "inside each and every one of Israel," that Hashem actually dwells within each individual Jew. What does this mean? That within every Jew, the innermost point of the heart is a sanctuary where Hashem dwells. Hashem sits in the inner part of every Jewish person's heart.

The fact is that the place where the sanctuary—the physical Beis HaMikdash—stood, even during the time of exile and desolation, remains holy. The place where Hashem rests retains its holiness, even though it has been destroyed.

As it is brought down in Shemos Rabbah, chapter 2, Rabbi Acha says that the Shechinah never moves away from the Western Wall. So, even though the Beis HaMikdash is destroyed, the Shechinah is still present there.

What does it mean that it became destroyed or desolate? The desolation is only in the structures. This same idea is metaphorically applied to the sanctuary within each Jew—the personal sanctuary. The foundation is whole, pure, and clean. As the verse says, "I am sleeping but my heart is awake." This means that even if one is sleeping from mitzvos—not properly awake to do them—still, the heart is awake to do acts of loving kindness. Similarly, even if one is sleeping from doing charity, the heart is still awake to do them. The entire concept of desolation, God forbid, that sometimes exists by a Jew—sleeping from mitzvos or charity—is only similar to the structures outside the foundation. But the foundation of the personal sanctuary remains in its sanctity. The Shechinah stays at the Western Wall, and likewise, the foundation remains within each Jew, even if externally one might be lacking.