Tisha b’Av and the miracle of Jewish survival

As we approach Tisha b”Av it is important to remember that defeat and destruction need not lead to despair and surrender. Each day we live should be a day of hope and faith in our future. Jews may have suffered more than other peoples, because Jews have survived more defeats and destructions than other peoples; and that is in itself, the greatest of miracles, as even a German Protestant chaplain knew.

The King of Prussia, Frederick the Great, in a discussion with his court chaplain once said, “Give me proof of the inspiration of the Bible.”

The chaplain replied, “Your majesty, I can answer your request in a single word.”

Frederick looked at the chaplain with some amazement and asked, “What magic word carries such strong proof?”

The chaplain answered, “Israel, your majesty.”

Indeed, the continued existence of the Jewish people in spite of centuries of persecution, is the best proof of the Bible’s inspiration, and of the existence of the God who promised to preserve the Jews, return them to their homeland, and bring them to a time of great national blessing in the last days.

This retelling of the well known dialogue between King Frederick and his court chaplain, comes not from a Jewish source, but from a Christian minister: Dr. James Boice.

Most Jews also believe that the survival of the Jewish People is a real miracle. Jews are the only nation. religion or people in the western world today; who still celebrate the same holiday (Passover), use the same language (Hebrew), and pray to the same God, as their ancestors did more than 3,000 years ago.

Although the Hebrew language and the Jewish religion have continued to grow and change, the evolution, identity and continuity of the Jewish People has never been broken.

In the whole world, only the Chinese and the Hindus can boast of a similar continuity.

But the Chinese and the Hindus have very large populations, and have never been exiled from their land and then returned, not once but twice. Nor have the Chinese and the Hindus lived most of their history as a small minority, resisting assimilation into the majority.

The Chinese and the Hindus have always been the majority in their land. Jews have always been a minority, even when they lived in their own land, because they were surrounded by larger, more powerful nations and religious cultures.

Thus, the history and survival of the Jewish people is truly and amazingly unique.

The recent revival of Jewish life in Poland is one example of the miraculous ongoing survival of the People of Israel.

Since the end of Communist rule in 1989, thousands of Poles have discovered a previously hidden Jewish ancestry, and decided to return to that identity.

In Warsaw today, there are two Progressive Reform Congregations and one Orthodox Synagogue; all of them filled with Poles who found that in some mysterious way, they have a Jewish soul that yearns to come back to the Jewish people.

Of course, those who participate in a large scale miracle have difficulty in seeing it as a miracle. People are human; they always have their faults and weaknesses.

Even during the Exodus from Egypt, the greatest miracle in Jewish history, Jews were complaining to Moses about food (Exodus 16: 2-4), drink (15:24, & 17:2-3), danger (14:11-12). and his leadership (14:10-12).

Yet 120 generations of Jews would look back to this event as the greatest of all miracles. God willing, future generations in Poland will look at this generation’s Polish revival in the same way.

All Jews who encourage others to join the Jewish People now, will be part of that Divine and yet very human miracle.

For more information see the Jewish Renewal in Poland web site.