August 14, 2008

Shalom!

Last weekend Jews around the world marked Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning set aside to remember all the catastrophes that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history, particularly the destruction of the two Holy Temples in Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. and 70 C.E., respectively. It is, as you might expect, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. My father has explained in detail the meaning and significance of this holiday. But today I’d like to give you a more personal view of Tisha B’Av, and try to communicate to you what it feels like to observe it in Israel.

When Tisha B’Av started on Saturday night, all Israelis were transformed into mourners. It is a fast day, so all refrain from food and drink. My family and I attended synagogue, where everyone sat on the floor and read from the book of Eicha – the biblical book of Lamentations – that describes in detail the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple. I cried for the Holy City and for all those who lost their lives in this horrific event, as well as for my generation and many before who have not yet been worthy of seeing the rebuilding of the Third Temple that God promised would one day be established in Jerusalem. After Synagogue ended no one stayed around to talk like we usually do -- we all exited quietly and went home to go to sleep.

The mood continued into Sunday morning, when we again gathered at the synagogue to read verses that recall the terrible tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history. As each person entered they appeared broken and sad. There were none of the usual affectionate greetings. Everyone was feeling the same pain – the pain of knowing that, over a period of thousands of years, their ancestors have on innumerable occasions been slaughtered and chased out of foreign lands simply because of their faith.

This focus on pain may seem excessive, but, really, it is necessary. Jews know it is important to remember the persecution endured by our ancestors. This is one of the primary reasons that Tisha B’Av is set aside as a day to mourn with all our hearts not just the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple in biblical times, but every instance of persecution throughout history, and all the Jews who have suffered and died for their beliefs. Because if we don’t remember, how will we prevent such horrors from happening in the future?

Towards the end of the day I ventured to the Old City to end my fast. Sitting next to the only wall standing from the ancient Temple, known today as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, I was filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand, the Wall is a constant reminder that our holy Temple is no longer standing. On the other hand it reminds me that, just as this one wall was not destroyed when all of Jerusalem was destroyed, so too the Jewish people have survived despite being subject to great persecution and hardship. Yes, we have been hated, and oppressed, and killed because of our religion. But no, they can never destroy us all.

Even on this, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, I was heartened to remember all of the Jews who, like me, have returned to live in Jerusalem despite all of the efforts of our enemies to prevent it. In some sense, our presence here is like that last wall of the Temple – a reminder that, despite our hardship and toil, God has not abandoned His people.

Yael