Yesterday (Sunday) was Tisha B'Av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av. According to Jewish tradition it is a fast day, commemorating the destruction of the first Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and, not by chance, the second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. Many other tragedies in Jewish history have become associated with this day. It is in essence, a national day of mourning. For years I would fast the whole day. With the restoration of Jerusalem following the 1967 Six Day War, I came to realize that Israel reborn and restored mitigated fasting an entire day. The Jewish people alive and functioning brought a renewed sense of hope. It really brought into question the whole idea of fasting as a sign of mourning altogether. Traditions are hard to give up and so many people I know, and I, took on the custom of fasting half a day.
This year the underlying message of Tisha B'Av seemed to be especially relevant. Not only were the Babylonians and the Romans responsible for the destruction of a Jewish Commonwealth, but "sinat hinam", baseless hatred of one Jew against another was equally responsible for the destruction of the community.
Today marks the initial phase of the disengagement. For weeks we have watched on television demonstration after demonstration by those opposed to the disengagement. Today soldiers and police attempted to enter the settlements to deliver the letter officially requiring settlers to leave their homes. They have forty-eight hours to leave voluntarily.
These next days will be crucial for the survival of Israel. Can we really be one people, one nation and not repeat the tragic lessons of history where baseless hatred can destroy a community?
More to come!
Frank