Tisha B’Av, Achdut and the Iranian Nuclear Threat
This week is Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av.
In several weeks, we will be observing Tisha B’Av – a sad and solemn day of fasting and mourning to remember the destruction of our holy Beit HaMikdash
The profound sadness, deep pain and anguish of Tisha B’Av is difficult to bare under normal circumstances. It is even more so today when it is magnified by the harsh significance of today’s total disregard and collapse of achdut bnai yisrael and existential misfortunes which Israel has experienced over the past several years.
One has only to observe the proliferation of articles, divrei torah and posts on this topic to truly understand the profound significance of these two realities – commemorating the tragedy of Tisha B’av and today’s total lack and disregard for achdut. It is also occurring at a time when Israel is in great peril and in the midst of an existential nuclear threat by Tehran and its proxies, including Hezbollah.
As I reflect on the juxtaposition of Tisha B’av, the lack of achdut and the recent hostilities between Israel and Iran and its proxies, I tremble at the thought that maybe there is some sort of causal relationship between these horrifying events.
I have always been taught to never automatically assume causal relationships between events in Jewish history unless indicated by specific meforshim and/or commentators.
Tragedies befall a people because it is the will of HaShem. Plain and simple. Having said that, it is also well known and an accepted notion that the destruction of the two Batei Mikdash in Jerusalem were the result of avodah zara, immorality and sinat chinam – baseless hatred between our people. This well-accepted belief is documented and codified in the writings by our great sages.
There are many who sincerely believe that there may in fact be causal relationships between recent tragedies in Israel and internal sinat chinam.
Attributing the horrific October 7th massacre to anything more profound then a terrible unprecedented lapse in IDF vigilance and security may be viewed as both foolish and even inappropriate. Yes, there are reasons or causes for this tragedy, but they are far beyond our understanding or human comprehension. These events are ordained and determined singularly b’yad HaShem, and by HaShem only.
The one observation I do posit however is when I compare the events and zeitgeist leading up to Tisha B’Av, the current conflict with Iran and the October 7th bloodbath. In fact, I can’t help but think about certain aspects of each event with striking levels of causal similarity.
As I just indicated, we learn that the causes for the destruction of the second Beit HaMikdash were attributed to sinant chinam – the unadulterated and baseless hatred among and between our people within the Jewish community. There are hundreds of commentaries and Judaic texts and sources which validate and support this historical fact and contention.
If we recall, the lack of achdut (unity) within our Jewish camp just prior to October 7th, was also very evident and apparent.
It is interesting and curious to note that the events in Israel just prior to the October 7th tragedy were that of significant social unrest, civil disobedience as well as significant consternation, fierce debate and hatred between religious and (secular)non-religious members of the Israeli society. In fact, the matzav (situation) was so tenuous and dangerous that many Israeli leaders were fearful of a civil war breaking out. To be sure, the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were spilling over with vile hatred and disgust between religious and secular groups…and between those who agreed with the reform of Israel’s judicial system and those who were vehemently against it, let alone the IDF mandatory draft conundrum of yeshiva students.
Shortly afterward, we were in prep mode for an attack on Iran which resulted in a series of missile and drone attacks against Israel.
The resulting death, destruction and psychological trauma inflicted on Israeli population centers during that period of time was overwhelming.
Was this just a coincidence?
Friends, is it not curious that deadly violence and hatred in the streets and neighborhoods of Israel occurred just prior to the October 7th tragedy? And is it not coincidental that within in a very short period of time we were confronted with Iranian ballistic missiles and drone attacks.
I began to imagine that these scenes of hatred and violence between our people are in many ways reminiscent of the hatred and sinat chinam which ultimately led to the destruction of the Batai MiKdash.
Again, I am not at all suggesting with any degree of certainty that these events led up to or caused the October 7th surprise attack on our brothers and sisters in Israel. Having said that, it nevertheless does present a very curious and coincidental scenario.
My only take-away from this observation is that the lack of achdut – both prior to and following the October 7th tragedy should be a subtle reminder to Acheinu Bnei Yisarael that we should never ever take our achdut for granted.
Although we do see and observe periods of achdut throughout history in our communities, they are sporadic at best and are more often than not realized following as opposed to prior to communal tragedy or catastrophe.
As I have written and blogged on numerous occasions, this “chicken or egg” phenomenon must teach all of us that achdut may prevent tragedy. It should not be viewed only as a product, end result or outcome of tragedy.
As we are about to observe Tisha B’av, it is imperative that we constantly remind ourselves that achdut never happens in a vacuum. It requires hard work, continuous perspective, introspection, due diligence and a love for acheinu.
To this end, I humbly suggest that this Tisha B’av mark the beginning of a new and renewed period of achdut – one which enables us to respect each other, love each other, care for one another and protect one another.
If there is any lesson we learned from the Holocaust of October 7th and by extension from the spread and proliferation of global anti-Semitism, and Jew hatred, as well as the existential war with Iran, it is that we only have ourselves to depend upon and through the will and good graces of HaShem.
It’s now time to heal our internal differences in order to achieve true and lasting achdut. If not now, when?
Have a reflective three weeks, followed by a meaningful “nine days” and Tisha B’Av taanit
B’sorot tovot.
