the sick, rejoicing with the wedding couple, consoling the bereaved, praying with sincerity and making peace.
Yet, while I often teach that Tisha B’ av is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, since it commemorates the destruction of both Holy Temples, the expulsion of the Jews from Spain and so many other real tragedies, it does not commemorate October 7th. How do we find hope after October 7th? How do we find resilience?
The Talmud teaches that the Second Temple was destroyed because of sinat hinam, baseless or senseless hatred. 19 The Israelites just couldn’ t get along. What is the solution? Rav Kook, the first Chief Rabbi in modern day Israel had this to say:
“ If we were destroyed, and the world with us, due to baseless hatred, then we shall rebuild ourselves, and the world with us, with baseless love— ahavat hinam.” 20
So, in my congregation, we will read the haunting story of Lamentations, Eichah, in the dark, by candlelight, on the floor in the evening of Tisha B’ av, as far away from the Aron Kodesh, the Holy Ark holding the Torah scrolls, as possible, just like I did that first time observing Tisha B’ av, when I was a high school student in Israel one summer.
Then in the morning, we will gather again and spend the day demonstrating,“ V’ ahavta l’ rayacha kamocha, Love your neighbor as yourself.”( Lev. 19: 18). Akiba taught that this was the most central commandment of all the 613 mitzvot. Our projects might include making soup for shut-ins, picking up litter along the river trail, painting a room at our domestic
19
Yoma 9b
20
Orot HaKodesh vol. III, p. 324
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