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TISHA B’AV READING

Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy

Transitioning

Beyond Covid

any Jewish life-cycle events, fes- individuals, nations and the Jewish com- Shabbat services and meals alone. This is
tivals and customs encompass munity is mirrored as we move from a time far from the face-to-face interactions upon
a transition between one stage of tragedy to a new chapter in history. which our tradition thrives.
Mand another. After a wedding, Channeling the halachic tradition, it is If the physical community of Jewish ritual
we continue the celebration with the week important to define a time for us to pause
of sheva brachot and continue this special is important, we must consider how crucial
energy throughout the first year of mar- and consider which habits formed during this aspect is to our people when Covid-19
this time are important to us as individu-
riage, the shana rishona. finally passes. Are there any areas in which
als and communities, consciously adopting we should, in the words of Eicha, “renew our
those we would like to keep days as of old?”
and those we would not.
Usually, maintaining old habits is easier
Many questions have been than creating new ones, but in this case,
raised. Working often required perhaps the roles are reversed. Some have
a commute and more face-to- become more lax with regard to going to
face interactions, but now we synagogue or shiurim and this needs to be
know this is not always neces- rethought. It may not be a challenge to
sary, and we may forgo human hold onto some new habits that have been
engagement in some ways. Is developed over the course of the last year
this okay? Similarly, is it appropriate or so, but it will be a challenge to make sure
to adapt to more online activity in an we leave room for the right long-standing
effort to save money and time? Even ones that have shaped us as individuals and
on a basic level, will fewer people societies.
tread outside their homes for grocer-
ies when they can order virtually at So as we transition out of the communal
the click of a button? There will be mourning of Tisha B’Av through Shabbat
inevitable good coming out of this, Nachamu, it is important that we take the
yet at the same time, we are at risk time to focus on developing an exit strategy
of some new habits replacing our into a hopeful future. For once in our lives,
crucial in-person interactions. This our focus does not need to be on forming
is true universally, and it will have new habits alone but rather on rediscover-
a unique impact on our particular ing and reclaiming the time-tested old ones.
communities as well.
After the passing of a loved one, family mem-
bers enter different phases of mourning, From the ancient Beit HaMikdash in
starting immediately with the pre-burial Yerushalayim to the synagogue, from the
aninut stage, then the week of shiva, then one Diaspora to Israel, Jewish ritual throughout
month since the passing (shloshim), up until the ages, while evolving, has always relied
the first anniversary or yahrzeit. These stages on a physical sense of community. With
enable us to take the time to process our the adaptability learned through the pan-
emotions properly and transition forward demic, so many Jews around the world have
in a steady and structured way. managed to retain elements of this sense of
community even from afar, such as learning
The Shabbat following Tisha B’Av, Shabbat Torah through Zoom or praying in a smaller
Nachamu, is another example of this, when minyan with neighbors at a safe distance. Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy is the Co-Founder
we move beyond the three weeks of mourn- At the same time, many have faced terrible of Israel Impact Partners, optimiz-
ing culminating in Tisha B’Av, the saddest realities such as not being able to attend ing non-profits on behalf of leading
day in the Jewish calendar. philanthropists.
in-person events; for example, I was forced
As the world slowly and unevenly emerges to deliver my grandmother’s eulogy online A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
from Covid-19, this transition for us as and others have experienced countless mizrachi.org/speakers

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