Page 45 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'av 5782 USA

Is the Ninth of Av a

Relevant Fast Today?

Rabbi Heshie
and Rookie
Billet

ith the establishment In the kinah, the author states that ultimate destiny, we must always be
of the State of Israel in although the death of the victims of cognizant of the past. As long as we
1948, followed by the the Crusades are worthy of separate have enemies that seek to destroy
W dramatic reunification days of mourning on the days of their us, we must be prepared to defend
of Jerusalem in 1967, does it really respective destructions, just as we ourselves. By remembering that our
make sense to observe a fast that com- mourn our destroyed Jerusalem Tem- enemies have tried to destroy us
memorates the destruction of the two ples, “we should not add a festival of throughout our history, we renew our
ancient Holy Temples? grief, and we should delay our grief for dedication to self-defense. Remember-
later”. Rabbi Isaac Herzog explains this ing the past is the key to being pre-
It is certainly true that the Beit HaMik- to mean that we should not mourn
dash has not been rebuilt. But despite the victims of the 1096 Crusade on pared for the future! And though we
the complications surrounding it, Shavuot which is proximate to the could certainly remember the persecu-
Jewish sovereignty over the Temple calamity, but should wait until after tions of the past on Tisha B’Av while
Mount is a fact; the power to rebuild Shavuot to commemorate the tragedy hydrated and nourished, the drama,
the Beit HaMikdash is in our hands. Why (Pesakim U’ketavim 2:99). strain and tension of the 25-hour mid-
then must we suffer through a 25-hour summer fast brings the memory of
fast on the Ninth of Av during the hot- Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, however, past events to life.
test days of the summer? explained the kinah differently. Accord- Zechariah prophesied that one day in
ing to the Rav, Kalonymus ben Yehuda
Over the years, we observed several is telling us that the tragedies at the the future, Tisha B’Av will indeed be
special Tisha B’Av experiences in won- time of the Crusades derive from the transformed to a happy day: “The fasts
derful summer camps – Camps Galila, destruction of the Temples which we of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth
Morasha, and Munk. These camps ran mourn on Tisha B’Av. For this reason, months will become happy days and
meaningful programs centered around all national Jewish tragedies should be festivals for the household of Israel”
creative services with explanations of observed on Tisha B’Av, which is the (Zechariah 8:19). Tisha B’Av, the fast
the kinot, the lamentations of Tisha national day of Jewish mourning for of the fifth month, will one day be a
B’Av, that we recited while sitting on all calamities that have befallen our Yom Tov! By remembering the past
the ground like mourners. However, collective nation (Kinot, 1970). and mourning what we have lost, we
these programs and rituals could have Following the Rav’s reasoning, some prepare the way for a time when there
all been done much more comfortably segments of the Jewish community will be no more mourning, when Am
and just as meaningfully with food have questioned the propriety of des- Yisrael will celebrate the rebuilding of
and water in our bodies! ignating 27th Nissan as Yom HaShoah, the Beit HaMikdash – speedily in our
days!
The answer to the question lies in a arguing that the Holocaust should be
deeper understanding of Tisha B’Av included in our Tisha B’Av liturgy,
in the context of the bigger picture just as the York massacre of 1190 is Rabbi Heshie and Rookie Billet recently
of Jewish history. One of the kinot mourned on Tisha B’Av. Nevertheless, made Aliyah after long and distinguished
we recite on Tisha B’Av begins with it is fair to note that Yom HaShoah was careers in Jewish community work in the
United States. Rabbi Billet is Rabbi Emeritus
ֹ
םִי ַמ י ִ ׁשאר ן ֵּ תִי י ִמ, “Who will turn my face never designated as a fast day! Rather, of the Young Israel of Woodmere and a
into water…” It was written by Kalo- it was set aside as a day to reflect about member of the US President’s Commission
nymus ben Yehuda of Mainz about and remember the Holocaust, its mil- for the Preservation of America’s Heritage
the destruction and massacre of the lions of victims, its survivors and its Abroad. Rookie Billet recently retired after a
Jewish communities of Speyer, Mainz, heroes. long career as a Jewish educator, principal,
and Worms in Iyar and Sivan of 1096 In order for our people to protect and shul Rebbetzin, and yoetzet halachah, and
during the First Crusade. defend ourselves and to fulfill our hopes to contribute to life in Israel.

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