The time of grief of Tisha B’Av reaches its climax this Saturday night through this Sunday night with the fast day commemorating the destruction of the Temples and the Exile. The Fast Day is fully observed from 8:11PM on Saturday through
8:47PM on Sunday. Like Yom Kippur, we take on the “five fasts”- Eating/Drinking, Bathing (for pleasure), Anointing (with cologne/perfume), Adornment (with jewelry or leather) and Marital Intimacy.
There is a discussion in the Talmud about whether there is any halachic/spiritual significance to partially fasting. The answer is yes. Even if you cannot do the whole fast, withholding for at least part of the day is seen as important and fulfilling the Mitzvah, at least in part. People whose occupations place them outside in extreme heat or in other risky positions are commanded to not observe the fast. The principle of “Pikuach Nephesh”- preserving life and safety overrides all other Mitzvot. It says in the Torah, “You shall live by the Mitzvot”- meaning that by doing the Mitzvot, you must not endanger your lives.
Yom Kippur is known as the White Fast for it purifies us of the stain of mistakes, missteps, sin and transgression. It is a fast of faith, a fast of joy. On the opposite
end of the emotional/spiritual spectrum is the Fast of Tisha B’Av. It is known as the Black Fast, for on it we are called to mourn anew for all we have lost, for destruction and exile and for all the unanswered cries for help and broken dreams and prayers. We cry out to G-d in supplication and also in protest: How long will you forget us? Will we be forever abandoned? Tisha B’Av is the fast of crying out, even of rebellion.
Faith and Rebellion are the two poles of our spiritual spectrum. We dare to challenge G-d, to demand that G-d adhere to the Covenant, even if we have not. Hashivenu Adonai Elecha, V’Nashuva- Return us to You, HaShem and we shall return. The act of returning to G-d can be seen as taking a moral account of ourselves and our world. On a deeper level, it is also an act of “leaving room” for G-d, acknowledging the brokenness of the world, and of deep longing for G-d’s “return” to creation and compassion and justice made manifest. In our evening prayers we say, Let our eyes behold, our hearts take heed of Your return, HaShem to Zion. It is this longing for a return, both of ourselves and of the Divine Presence, that infuses the months ahead toward renewal, toward the Days of Awe.
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"I learned in the Holocaust that sometimes, rebellion against G-d is the greatest act of faith in G-d" -Elie Wiesel
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Hebrew Word of the Week: תשובה- Teshuva
This core Jewish concept has two meanings: 1) an answer to a divine calling and 2) repentence/”returning” to G-d and to our true selves. This value-concept is introduced in liturgy during Tisha B’Av and becomes the very central theme of the Days of Awe, especially Yom Kippur.
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Jewish History
Five things befell us on the 9th of Av: The two Temples were destroyed, the decree came that the generation of the Exodus would not enter the Promised Land, the stronghold of Betar fell ending the Bar Kochva revolt in 135 CE, and the Romans ploughed up the ruins of the City of Jerusalem. -Talmud, Tractate Ta’anit
‘'Am Yisrael Chai’- "the People of Israel yet lives"
Bomb shelter at the Nova Music Festival Site seen during Adath Shalom’s volunteer trip to Israel in March, 2024
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