Tisha b'Av and baseless love
Tonight and tomorrow are Tisha b'Av, the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av, the day on which both the First and the Second Temples were destroyed. It is a day which is 'ready for tragedies' in our Rabbis' words, and in fact, several other tragedies have befallen the Jewish people on this day. You can find out much more about it here and here.Our Rabbis tell us that while the First Temple was destroyed due to violations of the three cardinal sins (idol worship, adultery and murder), the Second Temple was destroyed due to baseless hatred. Therefore, they tell us, the Temple can only be rebuilt through baseless love. It is in that spirit that this video (Hat Tip: NY Nana) is presented.
Let's go to the videotape, and I'll have a little more to say afterward.
On this day, we do not eat, drink, wash, put on cosmetics, wear leather shoes or engage in marital relations. We also do not study Torah except for those things that relate to the destruction of the Temple, and we sit on the floor or on low stools until mid-day on Sunday as a sign of mourning.
I am not planning to post to this blog again until sometime Sunday afternoon Israel time. May those of you who are fasting have an easy fast, and may the day be a meaningful one for all of you.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:12 PM
1 Comments:
When I heard the Iranians wouldn't swim with a Jew at the Olympics, I realized how painful Tisha B'Av can be. Some are still repelled by the sight of a living, breathing Jew. Jews have only one True Friend in this world: G-d.
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