We’ve answered the first two questions. We understand that Dan is called a snake because he suffers from the negative snake-like tendency to gaze at what is not befitting, and we understand that even the great Samson succumbed to his tribal predilection. All we have left is the third question – how does this connect back to Asara B’Teves? I would like to suggest that the tragedy of Asara B’Teves (the beginning of the siege which led to the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash) was only made possible because the Jewish People strayed after their eyes. Now, the Gemara says that the first Beis Hamikdash was destroyed because of the three cardinal sins. But how did the holy people of Israel come to adopt the degenerate ways of the nations? What could possibly cause this to happen?
Let’s take a detour to Sedras Nitzavim. The Jewish People are primed to enter Eretz Yisrael. Moshe gathers them to renew their covenant with G-d. Moshe explains “You are standing here today… before Hashem… to pass into the covenant. [Why is this necessary?] Because you know how we dwelled in Egypt… and [during our travels] passed through the midst of the nations. You saw their abominations and idols. [So] perhaps there is among you… one whose heart turns away from Hashem… to go serve the gods of the nations…”
Is it not incredible what Moshe is saying? It seems that the same people who saw the plagues, the splitting of the Red Sea, and the revelation at Sinai still might be seduced to follow the ways of the nations. Why? Because they saw the ways of the nations. The evil inclination can convince you to do all sorts of things, but only once you look and let the abomination into your life. The Beis Hamikdash was destroyed because the Jewish People strayed after their eyes, and thereby allowed the ways of the nations to seep into their culture.
However, everything can be used for both bad and good. It is wrong to look at our friend’s house, car, and spouse, but it is commendable to look at the world and see the wonders of creation. Hashem made so many incredible creations; if we would only open our eyes, we would be constantly astounded and awed. Perhaps a reason Hashem made so many wondrous creations is so that we can accomplish shivisi – seeing Hashem wherever we go. If we work to see Hashem’s wonders, then everywhere we look we would see Hashem – and we wouldn’t dare look where we shouldn’t.
Let’s conclude with one final thought. The Midrash in Vayechi teaches that Samson could have been the Mashiach. The fact that he failed because he strayed after his eyes is not random. The Beis Hamikdash is called the “Eye of the Universe” (Bava Basra 4a). Someone who doesn’t use his eyes properly cannot build the eye of the universe. The Jewish People collectively strayed after their eyes and consequently the eye of the universe was taken from them. If we can use Teves to use our eye properly and work to not look at what we shouldn’t, perhaps we’ll merit seeing Mashiach, soon and in our days.
