rampant hatred aimed at the Jewish People, the Book of Lamentations reads differently, and the commemoration of Tisha B’ av reflects that difference.
As I reread the book recently, the parts that popped out at me were the repeated references not only to enemies, but to friends that have become enemies. Right from the beginning of the book, just looking at the first chapter, Jerusalem is described as having no comforter among those who have loved her. In addition, her friends betrayed her and became enemies( 1:2). She is surrounded by and confronted by pursuers( 1:3) and enemies( 1:5, 7). She is now degraded by those who used to honor her( 1:8). Those who could console her are no longer nearby( 1:16). She tries to reach out to those who were her lovers and supporters but they have deceived her( 1:19)
The combination of the prevalence of enemies, together with the friends who have turned on her, continues throughout the book. This theme resonates with many of us today. Since October 7, many have struggled with figuring out who are our friends and who are our“ foes.” Lines that had not existed for many years were drawn, and redrawn, and highlighted, and hardened into walls. These lines exist both inside and outside the Jewish community. They are painful and we often struggle to ignore them, or pretend that they don’ t exist. Yet, they return and we are pained yet again.
The Book of Lamentations emphasizes the struggle, and then the need for hope, for a future that is different than our present, and the longing for that future to come quickly. I think that many of us understand these ideas in more visceral ways over the last few years than perhaps we had previously. Therefore, we bear new responsibility to engage with this biblical text today. We can agree, disagree, struggle to understand better, and search for new meaning, but our involvement in the process is what is most helpful.
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