Three pictures with one message for Tisha B’av
Three Images from this emotional day of Tisha B’Av
Image number one: My Jewish student, smiling, wearing a keffiyeh.
Not just any keffiyeh—he wore it at a protest echoing messages of Hamas.
My student who grew up in a warm Jewish community, attended Jewish schools, and took part in a meaningful program in Israel after high school—marched today with Israel-haters on the Sydney Bridge.
My student who participated in countless classes and discussions about Israel, held a sign calling to stop arming the IDF.
My student who sang Shabbat songs with us, took part in a protest where people chanted: Death to the IDF. Death to the IDF.
Image number two – Evyatar David. Israeli hostage held by Hamas for 667 days already! Thin, frail, crying out for help.
My social media feed is flooded with cries of heartbreak. Brothers and sisters who can’t bear the pain, who can’t go on with their daily lives while Evyatar and the other hostages rot in the tunnels.
And instead of standing united against our cruel enemies, we are drowning in hatred. Brotherly hatred.
Horrible things are being shouted from one side to the other, and back again.
Image number three: Mount Herzl on Tisha B’Av.
An ancient tradition to visit the graves of the righteous on this day.
My brother sends a photo to the family Whatsapp group: A bereaved mother who lost her son Shuki in 2012. Since then, every year on Tisha B’Av—his birthday—she goes to his grave, sitting there alone, with balloons. And in the frame—ultra-Orthodox yeshiva boys, reading Psalms.
My brother says the cemetery was filled with Yeshiva boys.
On this one Tisha B’Av, three images swirl in my mind: My student wearing a keffiyeh at a protest echoing Hamas, Evyatar, wasting away in the tunnels, And yeshiva boys praying at Mount Herzl.
The fast is hard, I have a terrible headache.
And my heart, my heart is broken.
And I want to cry out—Yes, we can protest.
Yes, we must stand for our values.
But only out of love. Love and respect for the other. We must never forget— We are brothers. Am Israel Chai.
