Hayom Yom 15 Menachem Av - The 15th of Av is superior to the 15th of other months

אֵין אוֹמְרִים תַּחֲנוּןTachanun is omitted on this day.רוֹשֵׁם אַאַמוּ"רMy revered father, the Rebbe [Rashab] once wrote the following מַעֲלַת ט"ו בְּאָב עַל כָּל ט"ו בַּחֹדֶשׁabout the superiority of the Fifteenth of Av over the fifteenth of other months:שֶׁזֶּהוּ רַק הַשְּׁלֵמוּת בְּהַגִּלּוּיAlthough the fifteenth of any month represents the completeness [of the moon] in a revealed way, אֲבָל מִכָּל מָקוֹם הִיא רַק בְּחִינַת מְקַבֵּלthe moon in those months is still only a passive recipient [of light from the sun].אֲבָל בט"ו בְּאָב הָאוֹר בָּהּ בִּקְבִיעוּתOn the Fifteenth of Av, by contrast, its light is more lasting,לְפִי שֶׁהָעֲלִיָּה הִיא לְפִי עֶרֶךְ עוֹצֶם הַיְרִידָה דְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָבfor its ascent [which is indicated by its waxing] is proportionate to the [preceding] drastic descent of Tishah BeAv[…].וְזֶהוּ תָּשַׁשׁ כֹּחָהּ שֶׁל חַמָּהThis is the meaning of [the Talmudic statement that from the Fifteenth of Av], “the sun’s power is weakened.” עוֹבְדֵי כוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת מוֹנִים לְחַמָּה בִּישָׁאThe “idolaters reckon time according to the sun,” [which in this context serves as a Kabbalistic allusion to the level of evil personified by the sun],וּבְט"ו תָּשַׁשׁ כוwhose power is weakened on the Fifteenth [of Av].בְּמִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן מִזְּמַן הַבַּיִת שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְנָעִים לִשְׁלֹמֹהIf this applied in the era of the Beis HaMikdash, when [the idolaters] were subservient to King Shlomo, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן לֶעָתִידhow much more certainly will it apply to the future generationוְנָהֲרוּ אֵלָיו, בִּבְחִינַת בִּטּוּל לְגַמְרֵיwhen “nations will stream” [to the Beis HaMikdash] in a state of utter self-effacement.וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטּוּמְאָה אַעֲבִיר כוFor concerning that era there is a Divine promise that “I will banish the spirit of impurity from the world.” וּמֵעֵין זֶה בט"ו בְּאָב תָּשַׁשׁ כוA foretaste of this occurs on the Fifteenth of Av, when the sun’s power is weakened.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]