The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Under the Command of Titus, A.D. 70, Oil on canvas, David Roberts, 1850
This Saturday night after Shabbat, we begin our commemoration of Tisha B’Av, the culmination of a three week period of mourning that ends with this day on which the first and second temple were destroyed, along with many other terrible events throughout Jewish history. The Rabbis of the Talmud tell us that even though the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, it was a negative force in the world called sinat chinam, or baseless hatred between Jew and Jew that caused the devastation.
HaRav Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of Palestine under the British in the early 20th century says:
If we have been destroyed and the world has been destroyed with us, because of sinat chinam (baseless hatred), then we shall rebuild ourselves and the world with us, with ahavat chinam (baseless love).” Orot HaKodesh volume 3, p.324
In a world where we see so much agonizing pain and fires of hatred and intolerance burning and destroying in their path, we so need to use the power of this dark day in our calendar to open our hearts and cultivate love where there has been hate; love for our fellow Jews as well as all of humanity. Sadly, our Jewish world continues to have so many painful divisions that keep us apart and allow suspicion and distrust to prevent openness and good will. We are blessed within our Jewish community in Boulder to have much that connects us and unites us.
This Tisha b’Av morning, on Sunday at 10:00 am, Bonai Shalom and Aish Kodesh are joining together to read, study and reflect on some of the ancient and modern Kinot (liturgical poems) in a somber yet meditative setting. Join Reb Zalman, Morah Yehudis, Rabbis Goldfeder and Soloway who will guide us on this journey.
Saturday night, Ma’ariv at Bonai Shalom will be at 9:15 pm, followed by the 6th chanting of Eicha (The Book of Lamentations). Shacharit (morning services) will begin at 8:30 am on Sunday and mincha and maariv will be at 7:30 pm, with the fast ending at 8:48 pm.
May we rebuild the broken Temple within our own hearts and live to see days of sadness transformed into days of joy.
