Why I cry on Tisha B’ Av

In 1967, Israeli paratroopers captured the Old City and made their way to the Wall. Many of the religious soldiers were overcome with emotion and leaned against the Wall praying and crying. Far back from the Wall stood a non-religious soldier who was also crying. His friends asked him, “Why are you crying? What does the Wall mean to you?” The soldier responded, “I am crying because I don’t know why I should be crying.”

I am crying because of hypocrisy and despair.
I cry
Because I pray three times a day that we should rebuild the Jerusalem
Because If I say this is public then I branded a right-wing extremist
Even if I talk about going up to the Temple Mount, then I am an extremist
Even if I did go up I am not allowed to pray

I cry
Because the uproar of the metal detectors and showing our weakness and lack of sovereignty.

I cry
Despite over 700 references to Jerusalem and many daily prayers about rebuilding the Temple, we still have to justify our ownership and presence.

I cry
Over the bloodshed in my home land and the distorted reaction of the world and Arabs

I cry
Because of the hypocrisy, lies of the Arabs over our heritage ‘and history over the occupation of the Jews. Yes the Arabs are occupying us!!

I cry
Because we Jews want to live in peace while the Arabs want us to disappear. In fact the world wants us to disappear. OK a bit harsh

I cry
Arabs can walk around in safety in all neighbourhoods and I cannot without the threat of a lynch

I cry
Because the world is blind to the truth

I cry
Because God has given us a gift of not only living in the promised land but also a great independent State and so many of my fellow Jews are missing out on this historic opportunity

I cry
Because I am not sensitive to the pain. How after a week after the terrible Shabbat Massacre we go back to some sense of numbness and normalcy

I cry
Because we are not tolerant of our differences.

However much the pain, having Israel is a whole lot better than living with constant fears and pogroms and persecution over the last 2,000 years

Yes it easy to say that is so much wrong in Israel today, but on this Tisha B’ Av I will cry tears of happiness, tears of hope.