How Did This Happen??!! (And How Do We Fix It?)

Next Wednesday evening is Tisha B’Av, commemorating the destruction of both Temples, and many other calamities that heave befallen our nation over the centuries.  We will sit on low chairs like mourners, and read the Book of “Eichah” – Lamentations.

The word “Eichah” is very uncommon.  In the entire Bible, it only appears sixteen times. “Eichah,” which literally means “how,” is considered by the Talmud (Yalkut Shimoni, Isaiah, 389) to be a form of lament.  Perhaps a better translation of the word is, “How could it be that this terrible situation has taken place?”

In the book by that name, the prophet Jeremiah cries, “Eichah – how can it be that the city once filled with people has become like a widow…?”  (Lamentations, 1:1) Jeremiah stares with disbelief as he sees the once-great city of Jerusalem lying in ruins.  It is almost beyond comprehension that he sees that the Temple has been destroyed and the royal house of Israel has been led, in disgrace, into captivity.

Jeremiah’s wail continues to this day.  Throughout the world, Jews will sit and read Jeremiah’s words and cry over the pains of our exile.  They will ask, “Eichah,” how can it be that our anguish continues unabated? “Eichah,” how many Jews died with the destruction of our two Temples on Tisha B’Av?  “Eichah,” how could it be that England and Spain expelled the Jews on Tisha B’Av?  “Eichah,” how could it be that the Jews of Warsaw were deported to Treblinka beginning on the eve of Tisha B’Av?  “Eichah,” how can it be that a world tolerates the wanton murder of innocent people by a nation that sacrifices its own children for the “Mitzvah” of killing Jews?  “Eichah,” HOW MUCH MORE CAN WE TAKE?!!

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The word “Eichah” first appears in this week’s Torah Portion.

As Moses prepared to say good-by to his people, he chastised them for their misdeeds of the past.  They had been difficult, to say the least.

Moses was very frustrated by the constant bickering of the Jewish nation:  “Eichah -- how can I alone bear your trouble and your burden and your quarrels?” (Deuteronomy, 1:12)

They didn’t learn their lesson when Miriam was struck with “leprosy” for gossiping.  They didn’t learn how harmful it is to speak negatively when they were condemned to wander for 40 years in the desert because they maligned the Land of Israel.  They didn’t learn when the earth opened up to swallow Korach and his cohorts, that it was wrong to challenge the prophecy of Moses.

We still don’t get it.  If Moses were alive today, would he see the unity that was lacking in his day?  Or would he see that we are more disjointed than ever?

This time of year is a time of mourning.  Mourning for a lost Temple and for lost opportunity.  Mourning for the harmony that should give us strength.  Mourning for the fact that we are sometimes our own worst enemy.

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It is customary not to eat meat or drink wine during the nine days leading up to Tisha B’Av.  But one of the dangers of religious customs is that it is very easy to fulfill the custom and forget about the reason behind it.

The Temple was not destroyed because people ate meat. The Temple was destroyed because people were nasty to each other.  The Temple was destroyed because people had no qualms about (figuratively) stabbing each other in the back.   It is much easier to be a vegetarian than it is to be nice!  If only we could find it as easy to avoid gossip as it is to avoid eating a salami sandwich!!

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Rabbi Avraham I. Kook was the first Chief Rabbi of what was then known as Palestine.  He was very closely aligned with the early Zionist leaders, many of whom were virulently anti-religious.  Many religious Jews found it difficult to understand how Rabbi Kook could associate with people who were so antagonistic to his beliefs.  His response was a classic message for Tisha B’Av and all year round.

“The Temple,” explained Rabbi Kook, “was destroyed because of baseless hatred. People hated each other for no reason.  They treated each other badly, although the recipient had done nothing to deserve it.

“Perhaps,” said Rabbi Kook, the way to induce G-d to end our exile and rebuild the Temple is by undoing the damage that is done by unwarranted hatred. Rather than HATING for no reason, why don’t we learn to LOVE each other, even when the other party doesn’t deserve it?  That’s the way to bring the Redemption.”

Amen, Rabbi Kook.  From your mouth to OUR ears!

Have a Good Shabbos, and a meaningful fast.

Rabbi Yerachmiel Seplowitz