- Q. I heard that there are more reasons to the above tradition. What are they?
A. See also question 4063.
Various Sefarim explain that the main reason behind this custom is because they are afraid that there is a drop of blood that falls into the water between the Tekufos. (Darkei Moshe 455 in name of Abudarham - Shaar Hatekufos).
The Abudarham explains that the spring season of Nissan begins there is dangerous blood in the water which results from the water of the Nile which turned into blood. When the season of Tamuz (summer) begins there is dangerous blood in the water which results from the hitting of the rock by Moshe Rabbenu, that caused for the rock to bleed and in turn for there to be blood by all waters of the world.
When the season of Tishrei (or fall) begins there is dangerous blood in the water which results from the attempted slaughter that Avraham performed by the Akeidah to Yitzchok, for which a drop of blood fell and became mixed in the waters.
When the season of Teves (winter) begins there is the dangerous blood in the water which results from the slaughtering of the daughter of Yiftach, which caused blood to be mixed in all the waters of the world. (1st explanation in Abudarham Shaar Hatekufos p. 311;
Machzor Vitri ibid) Alternatively, the reason is because the change of seasons consists of a change of guard of angels, and the period between the seasons is empty of any guarding angel, and hence the world is open to potential damage from evil forces (the 2nd explanation in Abudarham Shaar Hatekufos p. 311; Machzor Vitri ibid; Teshuvos Rav Hai Gaon 14) or to damage from evil winds which can penetrate through the crack that is formed between the seasons.
This is the secret and mystical meaning behind the wearing of Tzitzis on the four corners of the garment and the sprinkling of blood and the four corners of the altar.
(Lechem Hapanim ibid; Rikanti Parshas Bereishis; Hagahos Tziyoni Parshas Bereishis; Kaf Hachaim 455:41) Alternatively, as at this time the Satan places a drop of poison in the water.
(3rd explanation in Abudarham Shaar Hatekufos p. 311; Sefer Haminhagim of Raavan Yarchi]
Alternatively, as at this time when a scorpion places a drop of poison in the water. (4th explanation in Abudarham Shaar Hatekufos p. 311; Machzor Vitri ibid).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a.
Important Numbers
