Post Tisha B’Av and Shabbat Nachamu Reflections: The New Normal

Throughout Tisha B’Av we were holding our breath in anticipation of an imminent attack on the State of  Israel by Hezbollah, Iran, and its proxies.

The feeling of unease Tisha B’av  evening, as we were sitting on the floor of our shuls and batei midrashim reciting aicha, (Lamentations), was a numbing  and surrealistic experience just waiting for the bad news to hit.

All of  the pre- Tisha B’av news reports, social media posts and articles leading up to Tisha B’av were such that we were being inundated with dire warnings and predictions that decisive rocket, drone and missile attacks on Israel’s population centers were imminent and that Israel was in the process of preparing for the worst.

Many of us redoubled our recitation of tehillim ( Psalms); and many called relatives on erev Tisha B’av only to be reassured by hearing their positive voices. that all is fine; and by letting them know that we in the States were thinking about them. It is really so strange how after speaking with relatives and close friends living in Israel how we immediately became somewhat relieved, but nevertheless still worried, anxious and concerned.

While reciting Aicha, kinot  and other tefillot Monday evening and most of Tuesday, many of us felt as if we were in suspended animation. With one hand holding siddurim and kinot and the other one on our cell phones, we tried desperately to focus on tefillah, only to be distracted every few minutes in order to glance at our cells for breaking news.

On the one hand, it was so difficult to focus on our tefillot and select Tisha B’av shiurim and lectures while feeling a deep sense of anxiety, insecurity and anticipation. On the other hand, I can’t imagine a more trying and difficult  time or environment in which to observe the tragedies of Tisha B’Av. It reminded me of the stories (of far greater intensity and magnitude)  that many of  our  parents and grandparents used to share with us about observing Tisha B’av in the shtetl, in concentration camps or in displacement camps or while trying to escape the pogroms of Eastern Europe. Fearing for their lives, and at the same time mourning loss and the tragedies of the past are beyond powerful. It is almost super-human.

Fast forward……

Immediately following Tisha B’Av (Tuesday evening), we recited Havdalah and proceeded to break our Fast. We were finally able to breath a bit easier as we  felt  temporary emotional relief. But our minds, thoughts and emotions were still drained by the continuous anticipation of a missile attack on Israel during Tisha B’Av.

As we concluded our Fast, our physical and emotional exhaustion numbed our senses and even our ability to remain frightened.

Traditionally, following Tisha B’av, we eagerly look forward  to Shabbat Nachamu (Shabbat of comforting or consolation) – a period of calm, peace, and solitude. But, for all the reasons we know, this  year’s Shabbat Nachamu was nothing like the past. It did not feel the same…it did not feel familiar, especially with dark clouds of  the unknown and a possible pending regional war hovering above us.

As a close colleague described the feeling –  immediately after Shabbat Nachamu “we still feel the heaviness of pending war”. It was like “living on an islands of fear in a sea of uncertainty”.

As I thought about this daunting feeling, I came to the very harsh and difficult realization that maybe this feeling and reality is the way things will remain for the foreseeable future. Maybe its the post October 7th induced  new normal  which we will always experience – not dissimilar  from the manner in which our dear and precious Holocaust survivors carried on with their lives after the war. They survived and even prospered, but life was never, ever the same.

Here too, October 7th was the most traumatic massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. – an undeniable harsh reality which are seared  in our hearts, minds and souls forever.

Moving into the future……

One of the most unique and  meaningful characteristics of acheinu bais yisrael is  and remains our unwavering and unswerving ability to survive and remain positive in the face of danger and existential adversity.

This positive and almost defiant mindset of resilience is embedded in our bitachon and emunah in HaShem; and it has shielded us as a people and as a nation throughout Jewish history.

As I have indicated in prior posts and blogs, this resilience does not happen in a vacuum. It is inspired, motivated  and celebrated through limud torah,  mitzvot, chesed. ahavat yisrael and achdut (just to name a few).

As we move forward into the future, the fear of an attack on Israel from our neighbors or the probability of a regional war, will remain with us for the foreseeable future. Our role at best, in addition to fulfilling the above deeds, must continue to be the unswerving desire and commitment to maintain true and sincere achdut. and to create the right conditions for permanent and authentic achdut. This is one of the undeniable messages when observing Tisha B’av. To be sure, we must do everything in our power to honor and respect  each other, and to do everything in our power to stand together as a united people and to ensure that achdut bnai yisrael is not a temporary occurrence in response to crises, but rather a permanent and integral part of our lives.

Chazal teaches us that achdut has always been and always will be an anecdote for combating existential danger. It may not eliminate our enemies or cause them to disappear from the map. But, it will definitely ensure a level of security and minimize our fear of the unknown.

As Israel embarks upon an agreement to end the war (or hostage “deal”) with Hamas, let us hope and pray to HaShem that this year’s Tisha B’av will be the last one that we as a community and people will observe through mourning and sadness. And, may next year’s Shabbat Nachamu  usher in a true period of sustained  shalom, consolation, achdut and the beginning of our Geula (redemption).

Our future is only determined and controlled in the heavens (rock bashamayim he). But, let us also remember  that we are all judged by our actions which we as acheinu base yisrael do control, inform and hopefully celebrate.

Its time…….