Devarim
Deuteronomy 1:1 - 3:22
Tisha b’Av
Tisha B’Av means the 9th of the Hebrew month
of Av. It begins this evening at sundown and lasts for a day. It commemorates
many of the sad events that have befallen the Jewish people over the years. It
is believed that both the 1st and 2nd
Throughout the book, he warns the Jewish people not to
forget the commandments and to obey the voice of God. Unfortunately history
has shown that our people have paid the price for disobedience. This week’s
Torah for Today, by Russ Resnik, gives us insight into the Orthodox Jewish
understanding of some of these tragic events and ways in which we can identify
with the rest of the Jewish community.
DAY
OF EXILE, DAY OF HOPE
The temple built by the Jewish remnant who returned to Jerusalem under
Ezra and Nehemiah, later expanded and beautified by Herod the Great, was
destroyed centuries after the temple built by Solomon, but on the same date.
On Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, both temples were desecrated
and burned by occupying imperial forces, who slaughtered many of the
inhabitants of the holy city. In both events, Tisha B'Av was a day of sorrow,
defeat, and exile that has ramifications even to this day.
There was, however, one apparent difference between the two
catastrophes of Tisha B'Av, as reflected in a discussion in the Talmud (Yoma
9b): "Why was the first temple destroyed? Because during its time there
were three sins: idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed.... But in the time of
the second temple, they studied Torah, performed the mitzvot, and did kind
deeds. Why then was it destroyed? Because there was hatred without a cause--SINAT
CHINAM--among them." What was the hatred of which this passage speaks?
In the years leading up to and including the Jewish revolt against
The divisions among our people were not only political, but included
ill-will and contempt between various Jewish groups that resulted in evil
speech. Accordingly, the Chofetz Chaim (in Shemirat HaLashon 2:7) cites
another Talmudic teaching, "that any generation in which the temple is
not rebuilt is considered as if it had destroyed it. We, therefore, have no
choice but to strengthen our efforts to correct this sin...for how long are we
to remain in exile?" Causeless hatred was not the sin of that generation
alone, but is present in every generation. Tisha B'Av, therefore, is a vital
time for every Jew to express its opposite; solidarity with our people.
In Messianic Judaism, this imperative is particularly compelling. We
might feel that we have been on the receiving end of sinat chinam, but let's
take responsibility for any unnecessary division we have caused. We have often
allowed our legitimate differences with the rest of our people over Messiah to
alienate us completely. We have failed to express solidarity in tangible ways,
and have allowed lashon hara into our discussions of the larger Jewish
community. This is one reason why our efforts to remain connected with Jewish
life and tradition are so important. Even though we may be marginalized
because of our loyalty to Yeshua, from our side we must eliminate sinat chinam
and stand with our people. When we consider the agonies of the land and people
of
As the Chofetz Chaim notes, we remain in exile, and Tisha B'Av is the
anniversary of many tragic events of the exile, culminating in the expulsion
of the once-glorious Jewish community of
How are we to respond to this hope? Not passively, but with prayer and
solidarity. On behalf of all
prayer:
Hashivenu Adonai elecha v'nashuva chadesh yameinu ki-kedem.
Turn us again O Lord to you and we shall return;
renew our days as of old!
Russ Resnik