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TORAT MIZRACHI MIZRACHI EDUCATORS

Rabbi Reuven Taragin

Tisha B’Av in an Age of

Open Antisemitism

Tisha B’Av Loneliness attacks of Arab citizens of the State of Israel. our ways and turn back to Hashem. Let
It is also the first time Jews around the us lift up our heart with our hands to G-d
isha B’Av is about loneliness. Megi- world were targeted with open hostility in the heavens. We have transgressed and
lat Eicha begins by reflecting on and violence. This was the case not only in have rebelled…” Am Yisrael has gotten the
the reality of Jewish loneliness. Muslim countries and across the European message. Hashem orchestrated the mass
TWe accentuate this emotion on continent, but also in the US, Canada and betrayal and isolation so we would appre-
Tisha B’Av by refraining from greeting each around the world. ciate the need to turn and return to Him.
other and even on Erev Tisha B’Av, by eating
separately. 1 Our peace overtures and territorial with-
drawals have failed to earn us the world’s
Last year’s Tisha sympathy and understanding. Antisemitism Realizing Our Destiny
B’Av was an espe- has once again proved its amazing resilience The Jewish people are meant to impact
cially lonely one. and has morphed into a virulent strain of and lead others. Unfortunately, sometimes
Covid reality and anti-Zionism that does not allow true reality our relationships with others cause us to
restrictions rein- to keep it from demonizing Israel and the lose our appreciation of our unique Jewish
forced our feeling Jewish people. identity and relationship with Hashem. The
of loneliness. It was hatred of others who distance themselves
not only the laws from us should remind us of our unique
of Tisha B’Av that Megillat Eicha on Antisemitism identity and mission and inspire us to return
kept us from greet- to Hashem with renewed commitment and
ing and embracing Of course, after suffering from antisemitism connection. When we do so, we can right-
each other, but also in so many forms over so many centuries, fully recite Eicha’s concluding pasuk: ּונ ֵבי ִׁש ֲה
ָ
concern for our we should no longer be surprised. In fact, ה ָבּו ׁש ָנ ְו ךי ֶל ֵא ’ה. May our doing so merit our
2
health and welfare. the Torah teaches us to expect antisemi- experiencing the conclusion of that pasuk:
tism. Megillat Eicha laments its existence
Tisha B’Av this and teaches us what to learn from it. ם ֶד ֶק ְּכ ּוני ֵמָי ׁש ּ ֵד ַח.
year should have
a different feeling. After opening by bemoaning how others 1
See more on this topic in my piece in last year’s Tisha
Our communities abandoned us, the first perek of Megillat B’Av HaMizrachi: mizrachi.org/hamizrachi/archive.
are emerging from Eicha ends with our call to Hashem: “I called 2
Devarim 28:68, Tehillim and Midrash Tehillim 25:19.
Covid. We are for my lovers but they deceived me… See, See also Maharal’s Gevruot Hashem 54 and the Intro-
once again able to Hashem for I am in distress… There is none duction to the Siddur of Rav Yaakov Emden.
gather and connect to comfort me.”
with each other. Perek Bet emphasizes that Hashem is the one
That said, we are who has brought the suffering. It is His way
still feeling lonely of calling us to turn to him. “Hashem has
this year, for a dif- done that which He devised. He has fulfilled Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational
ferent reason. His word that He commanded in days of Director of Mizrachi and Dean of the Yeshi-
old... Arise, cry out in the night, in the begin- vat HaKotel Overseas Program.

ning of the watches pour out your heart like
Reminder of Antisemitism water opposite Hashem’s face…”
The recent Israel-Arab conflict reminded us The pivotal, personal Perek Gimmel recog-
of our people’s existential loneliness. This is nizes it is Hashem who has isolated us from
not the first time Israel has been attacked the rest of the world with the intention that
by its Arab neighbors. It is also not the first we focus on our relationship with Him. Iso-
time popular world opinion has been mar- lation helps us appreciate neglected and Scan here to join Rabbi Taragin’s
shalled against us. abused relationships. WhatsApp group with daily Divrei Torah

It is, however, the first time these external This reflection leads to a return to Hashem A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
attacks were accompanied by the internal later in the perek: “Let us search and try mizrachi.org/speakers

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