As the sun set last night, marking the beginning of the month of Av, a familiar sense of solemnity descended upon the Jewish people. Traditionally, Av is considered the saddest month in our calendar, a time when we commemorate the siege and ultimate destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This catastrophic event, occurring on the ninth of Av, catapulted our ancestors into an exile that, persists even to this day.
Typically, the days leading up to Tisha B’Av are observed by incorporating mourning customs into our daily lives. Many refrain from listening to music, cutting hair, eating meat, and drinking wine. These practices serve as tangible reminders of our historical losses and help us connect with the grief of generations past.
Yet, as we enter this period of remembrance, a profound question arises: How do we enter into a time of mourning when we have already been in a state of grief for almost a year? What sets these nine days apart from the ten months that Israel has endured since the attacks of October 7th? With the constant threat of annihilation from Iran, our brothers and sisters still held hostage in Gaza, and our brave soldiers fighting daily for Israel’s right to exist, what will make the next week and a half feel different from our current reality?
In some ways, this question reminds me of the “famous” four questions that children ask on the Passover Seder. “Why is this night different from all other nights?”
The answer, perhaps, lies in the very nature of Av’s observance. While our current sorrow is immediate and visceral, focused on present dangers and recent losses, the mourning of Av connects us to a deeper, more profound sense of loss. It channels our grief towards the ideal we have lost – the direct connection to God embodied by the Holy Temple.
The prophet Jeremiah, who witnessed the destruction of the First Temple, captures this depth of sorrow in Lamentations:
These words, written millennia ago, resonate powerfully with our current reality, bridging the gap between ancient loss and present pain.
The grief we are meant to feel over the loss of the Second Temple and subsequent exile is also in some ways meant to comfort us too. You see, in connection to this profound loss, we are reminded of the enduring hope that has sustained our people through countless hardships. The prophet Isaiah offers a vision of future redemption:
This promise of renewal amidst desolation speaks to the resilience of the Jewish spirit and the cyclical nature of our history.
The observance of Av, particularly these nine days, allows us to place our ongoing struggles within the broader context of Jewish history. Both in the sadness, but also in our sense of hope. We are reminded that our present hardships, though unique in their specifics, are part of a larger narrative of exile and longing for redemption.
Ultimately this period of time provides a profound sense of hope. As we navigate these nine days, we are called to embrace what Viktor Frankl termed “tragic optimism” – a mindset that acknowledges the reality of our pain and loss while simultaneously holding onto hope for the future. This perspective allows us to grieve fully for what has been lost – both in recent months and throughout our history – while still maintaining faith in the promise of redemption and renewal. Which will come soon!
Av arrives this year amidst ongoing turmoil, it offers a valuable framework for processing our grief and connecting it to the broader narrative of Jewish history. By observing these days of mourning, we honor not only the losses of the past but also the resilience and hope that have sustained our people through countless trials. As we remember the destruction of the Temple and our subsequent exile, we also reaffirm our commitment to the ideals it represented – divine connection, national unity, and the pursuit of justice and peace.
May the observance of Av serve not only as a period of sorrow but also as a source of strength, reminding us of our people’s enduring spirit and the promise of eventual redemption. As we mourn for what has been lost, may we also find renewed purpose in working towards a future of peace, security, and spiritual fulfillment for Israel and the Jewish people worldwide.
Allowing a Palestinian terror state in the heart of Israel would destroy the Jewish State.
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