Here we are. Over 300 days since the atrocities of October 7. 115 hostages still captive in Gaza, 41 confirmed murdered in Gaza. 116 living hostages rescued and 24 bodies recovered.
Here we are in the midst of the 9 Days, on the cusp of Tisha B’Av, with Iran and their Hezbollah and Houthi proxies threatening a forceful attack.
On Tisha B’Av we recall the many tragic events that occurred on the 9th day of the month of Av: the destruction of the first and second Temples, the eviction of the Jews from Spain in 1492, the start of World War I, which historians see as the prelude to Hitler’s rise to power. We prepare for Tisha B’Av with three weeks of diminished pleasure: no weddings or live music. The last nine days we avoid meat, chicken and wine, except on Shabbat. On Tisha B’Av itself, we fast; we mourn and read the Megilla (scroll) of Eichah (Lamentations), written by the prophet Jeremiah more than 2,000 years ago.
This Shabbat we read Parashat Devarim, the first parsha in the fifth book of the Torah. This book contains Moshe’s message to the Jewish people prior to his death and just before their entrance into the land of Israel after 40 years in the desert. He reminds the fledgling nation of their missteps, warning them of the pitfalls they will face, and encouraging them to hold steadfast to Jewish values as taught in the Torah. These values provide the wisdom, the tools, and the support of the Almighty to overcome the obstacles they will face upon settling the land of Israel.
Moshe also recalls his great frustration. He tells the people that he complained, “Eichah, how can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens, and your quarrels?” (Deuteronomy 1:12). When the Torah reader reaches this verse, he changes the tune to the haunting melody with which Eichah/Lamentations is read on Tisha B’Av. In Lamentations we read, “How (eichah) is it that she (Jerusalem) sits in solitude?” Moses feels so alone, Jerusalem alone. Eichah – how?
The Talmud tells us that the Second Temple was destroyed because of sinat chinam (baseless, or free, hatred). It was hatred that left Moses feeling so alone; the petty hatred that people could not or would not rise above which led to the tragedy of Jerusalem destroyed and alone.
Much like the pettiness Moses bemoaned, we can be contentious. It is so much easier than putting our differences aside, communicating with respect and working together in a problem-solving way. We blame, criticize and quarrel. Our Sages understood that if we couldn’t rise above such baseless hatred, we would lurch from one tragedy to the next. One of the few occasions where the Torah uses the term lo tov (not good) is after the creation of Adam, when G-d says “it is not good to be alone.”
As we have sadly seen this year, there is nothing like an external enemy to create unity among the Jewish people. But we can do better, and the Torah gives us the tools we need. How can we counter senseless hatred? Through love that is not dependent on a cause. Through relationships that recognize that we are all human beings doing the best we can with the tools we have. Through acknowledging that we have more to unite us than to separate us. Through disagreeing on important issues with a fundamental base of respect because every human being is created in the image of G-d.
On Tisha B’Av we mourn collectively, as a community, united, together and not alone. Our history is full of tragedy and part of our growth as a nation comes from recognizing, commemorating and learning from these events. On Tisha B’Av we mourn for what could have been and what took place instead. Those tragedies are great big neon signs, messages from above, that something is seriously wrong with our world and the choices we have made. We can blame G-d, and we can blame our enemies, but in doing so we short-change ourselves. We deny ourselves the opportunity to look within, to take responsibility, to change ourselves and, in doing so, to change the world.
The Talmud tells us, “Whoever mourns for Jerusalem will merit seeing her happiness” (Taanit 30b). May G-d protect us from all of our enemies and may Jerusalem be rebuilt speedily and in our day. Have a meaningful fast.
Shabbat Shalom,
Lauren Shaps
