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Why does the Rambam (רמב"ם) list five separate tragedies for each of these fast days rather than having them occur together? The shiur develops a yesod distinguishing two aspects of our relationship with Hashem (ה׳): King versus Father. Shiva Asar B'Tammuz mourns the loss of divine service, while Tisha B'Av mourns the destruction of our spiritual home and Father-child relationship.
Rabbi Zweig presents an innovative analysis of the differences between Shiva Asar B'Tammuz and Tisha B'Av based on the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s description in Hilchos Taanios. He notes that the Rambam describes five tragedies on each day, but questions why certain events couldn't have occurred on the same day if Hashem (ה׳) controls history. The shiur develops a fundamental thesis: Shiva Asar B'Tammuz represents the loss of our ability to serve God as King, while Tisha B'Av represents the loss of our relationship with God as Father and our spiritual home. The Rabbi analyzes two different biblical sources the Rambam uses for the mitzvah (מצוה) to build the Beis Hamikdash - one emphasizing serving Hashem, the other emphasizing building 'for them' (livnos lohem). This leads to understanding the Mikdash as having two aspects: a place of divine service and a place that serves as our spiritual home. The tragedies of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz (cessation of the Tamid offering, burning of the Torah (תורה), placing an idol in the Heichal) all relate to the destruction of divine service - God as King.
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Hilchos Taanios, Perek 5, Halachah 2
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Why does the Rambam distinguish between immediate destruction and the judgment of Rosh Hashanah? The shiur develops a fundamental yesod that Hilchos Teshuvah distinguishes two frameworks: natural spiritual balance (where a negative force self-destructs) versus formal divine judgment (where consequences follow accountability). The Raavad's question—that we see wicked people alive—misses that judgment aims not at survival but at earning our existence through committed avodah.
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