10, 17 and 9!

According to our calendar year, the Hebrew date for this Shabbos is the ninth of Av – Tisha B’Av. Tisha B’Av is synonymous with our mourning over the destruction of our Temples. However, when it coincides with the holy day of Shabbos, our enjoyment of the delicious Shabbos treats and foods trumps the fasting of Tisha B’Av and its observance is pushed off to Saturday night and Sunday.  Tisha B’Av on Shabbos is similar to how a mourner during the Shiva period of a loved one conducts himself on Shabbos; he does not wear a ripped garment, does not sit on a low chair and can wear leather shoes.

My father, in a book that he authored cites the following idea that he had heard from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein o.b.m.

There are three fasts during the year that our prophets instituted which are associated with the destruction of our Temples in Jerusalem. The first is the 10th of Teves which commemorates the date when the Babylonians surrounded the walls of Jerusalem. The second is the fast of the 17th of Tamuz which marks our enemies breeching the walls of Jerusalem. The third fast is the Ninth of Av – Tisha B’Av which marks the destruction of both our Temples, the first Temple by the Babylonians and the second by the Romans.

Rabbi Feinstein wondered why the first two fasts are necessary. After all, if we are conducting a fast on the actual destruction of the Temples on Tisha B’Av, doesn’t that include all that transpired before? So why did the Prophets feel it was necessary to set up a fast at every step of the way towards the destruction?

Reb Moshe explains: A major function of a fast day is that one makes an assessment of the conduct of their lives and returns to G-d through repentance. Thus, at every step of the way that the enemy came closer towards the destruction of the Temple it warranted them to review and assess their actions and conduct. Unfortunately, at the time the Jews relied on their power, strength and resources and dismissed and ignored the opportunity that G-d was setting up for them so they call out and come closer to Him and thus prevent the enemy’s progression towards destruction of the Temple.

For example, the Talmud relates that when the Babylonians laid siege around the walls of Jerusalem preventing any imported goods from entering the city, there were three wealthy people in Jerusalem whose combined resources could have sustain the populace with food and energy for 21 years. The Jews placed their trust in these resources rather than reflecting that the siege was a message from G-d for them to repent. For this reason a fast day is warranted at this stage in order to remind us to place our trust in the Almighty and not to only rely on our resources.

In fact, the Talmud tells us that some hot headed people went and burned down all the plentiful resources and they were no longer self sufficient.

When our enemies actually broke through the walls of Jerusalem and began their onslaught, at that point the Jews sunk to a level of despair and did not call out to G-d out of hopelessness. This too was disadvantageous because a Jew is never to give up. We therefore fast at this stage of the tragedy to repair the mindset of despair.

Of course, on Tisha B’Av itself we fast and mourn over the actual destruction of the Temple and this exercise generates a feeling of hope within us that if we are mourning over something, it means we have a belief and longing for the eventual rebuilding of the third and everlasting Temple which will be manifest with the arrival of Moshiach.

Our Sages tell us that when the Jews sent 12 spies to scout out the Land of Israel, 10 spies returned with a bad report and were able instill fear in the Jews and convince them that the heavily armed and fortified inhabitants of Israel were impossible to penetrate and defeat. The Jews cried as a result. Those tears were for naught, since G-d had guaranteed amazing and miraculous success upon their entry into the Land. G-d said, “Tears are sacred and meaningful to me. Right now they are being shed for naught. However, in the future I will give them a reason to cry on this very day.” That day was the Ninth of Av.

Rabbi Mendel Weinbach shares something very interesting. Each month of the year has its unique sign. The sign of Av is Aryeh/Leo. The lion is the king of the jungle. He brooks no opposition. The lion demands to rule alone. He represents pride – the collective noun for a group of lions is a ‘pride’ of lions.

A major flaw in the spies conduct was their sense of pride. Their pride of maintaining their own ruling status – which they thought would be taken away upon entry into the land – distorted their vision of the land.

Our Sages tell us that in the future, to the same degree that the ninth of Av has been a day of tragedy, it will revert to a day of great happiness for on the ninth of Av Moshiach will be born from the Tribe of Yehudah, whose symbol is a lion and then the true strength of the lion of leadership will be restored!

This year, when we will be observing the Shabbos on Tisha B’Av day with eating, drinking and singing, in a certain way, we will be experiencing what Tisha B’Av will be in the future.

May G-d wipe away our tears forever – with the arrival of our Redeemer!

 

Rabbi Dovid Saks, Director

Jewish Heritage Connection

Scranton, PA