A Prayer to Merit the End of Lunar Eclipses in the Merit and Power of Yehoshua

Master of the Universe, Almighty! This Friday night, the night of the 16th of Av, at 21:24, a lunar eclipse will begin. It will last 235 minutes (3 hours and 55 minutes), reaching its peak at 23:21 before Chatzos (midnight), and ending half an hour after Chatzos at 1:19 (following sunset at 19:42). The next eclipse will occur on the 14th of Av, 5796, the one after that only on the 14th of Av, 5814, and the subsequent one on a Thursday night.During a lunar eclipse, the Jewish people are afflicted, as all the harsh decrees and spiritual accusations are renewed against them. Therefore, it is written regarding Calev, "And Calev the son of Chetzron begot children of Azuvah his wife" (I Chronicles 2:18). Miriam was the aspect of the moon, whose light progressively diminishes, and during a lunar eclipse, it departs completely, as it says, "For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and a thick cloud the nations" (Isaiah 60:2). On the 5th of Nissan, the greatest soul of all generations passed away. She was the aspect of the moon, and no one could take her place except for Moshe Rabbeinu, who is the aspect of the sun. This is why Moshe asked the spies, "whether there is a tree in it or not" (Numbers 13:20)—seeking the tzaddik who protects the generation like a tree.Therefore, Yehoshua bin Nun, who was the aspect of the moon, was buried in Kfar Cheres (Timnath-heres), because "Cheres" means the sun. He ascended from the level of the moon to the level of the sun. All of Israel saw Yehoshua bin Nun crying out and shouting, "Sun, stand still upon Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Ajalon" (Joshua 10:12).The closer we get to the moment of the eclipse, the more the spiritual accusations increase and intensify, until the very moment of the eclipse when they are completely sweetened (mitigated). This is in the merit of Yehoshua bin Nun. Therefore, cities that have been surrounded by a wall since the days of Yehoshua bin Nun are obligated in the mitzvah of walled cities, and must read the Megillah on the 15th of Adar. A lunar eclipse always occurs a day before the 15th of the Hebrew month, because the 15th is already a time of sweetening judgments.Therefore, the verse states, "For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not reverse it: because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes" (Amos 2:6). The moon is the aspect of Rachel, and the sun is the aspect of the sun [Leah], where the secret of Luz lies—the secret of the Resurrection of the Dead. As it says, "And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah" (Genesis 29:25). This is the secret of the Resurrection, which is called "morning."Therefore, it is said in Isaiah (30:25), "in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall." This hints at the fall of the Twin Towers, where about three thousand people were killed. They were reincarnations of the three thousand men who were killed during the sin of the Golden Calf. All of this was caused by a lunar eclipse, for every time there is a lunar eclipse, terrible disasters occur.One of the reasons for an eclipse is "an Av Beis Din (Head of the Rabbinical Court) who was not eulogized properly" (Sukkah 29a). This disrespect for the tzaddikim is the primary cause of lunar eclipses occurring multiple times a year. During an eclipse, all harsh judgments intensify, bringing calamity after calamity. Only through Emunah (faith) in the tzaddikim will nature change, and there will be no more lunar eclipses.This year, the eclipse will take place on the night of the 16th, already after all the judgments have been sweetened by the 15th of Av (Tu B'Av). On that day, the daughters of Israel go out dancing in the vineyards, sweetening all the judgments in the world, confusing them, and erasing them completely. Therefore, from the days of Tisha B'Av, "The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; He will no more carry you away into exile. He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will uncover your sins" (Lamentations 4:22).