Tisha B’Av

If you have any Jewish friends, you might have noticed that lately they have not been as happy or as fun loving as they normally are. That is because they are in a period of the Jewish Calendar called 'In the Straights' or 'Three Weeks of Sorrow'. This leads up to the National Spiritual Day of Mourning called Tisha B'Av. These have historically been days of misfortune and calamity for the Jewish people. During this time, both the First and Second Temples were destroyed, amongst other terrible tragedies.

During these Three Weeks, the 'observant' Jews will not schedule anything that brings real joy into their lives; no weddings, no vacations, no parties because this is a true mourning period for their spiritual nation. During this time various aspects of mourning are observed by the entire nation. They minimize joy and celebration. And, since the attribution of Divine Judgment (din) is acutely felt, they avoid potentially dangerous or risky endeavors.

During their Shabbat (holy day) Services during the Three Weeks of Sorrow, the Haftorah readings are taken from chapters in Isaiah and Jeremiah dealing with the Temples destruction and the exile of the Jewish people. This weeks Torah portion (Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22) covers the 'Sin of the Spies'; the story of the 12 spies sent out by the people to check out the land before they entered it. If you remember, 10 returned with a bad report, while 2 (Caleb and Joshua) gave an encouraging report.

Why is this remembered at this time? Because this was the first calamity that occurred on this date! Besides the two Temples being destroyed, what other calamities happened? The Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by the Roman Emporer Hadrian during which the city of Betar was captured and liquidated, over 100,000 Jews were slaughtered (135 CE). The Temple area and its surroundings were plowed under by Roman General Turnus Rufus and Jerusalem was rebuilt as a pagan city, Aelia Capitolina, and access was forbidden to Jews. The Spanish Inquisition culminated in the expulsion of Jews from Spain on Tisha B'Av in 1492. On the eve of Tisha B'Av 1942 the mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto, en route to Treblinka.

In Deuteronomy, Moses is recounting (shortening, think Readers Digest condensed version) the Law and the Stories. The story of the Spies in Numbers takes 2 chapters (13 & 14) whereas in Deuteronomy it covers slightly larger than the last ½ of the chapter. What is significant about this story, is that this is the generation that had witnessed the ten plagues of Egypt, all the miracles performed in their escape from Egypt, the Pillar of Smoke and Fire; yet they could not believe that God could lead them into the land that Yahweh had promised their Ancestors. The Sin of Unbelief.

Chaverim, are you plagued by this 'Sin of Unbelief', is there a part of you that you do not feel God can, or you feel you do not deserve to have God take care of? I know I do! Will you join me in my prayer, like the father of the epileptic child cry out "I believe, help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24).

 

Baruch Moshi'einu