As the sun sets on the eve of Tisha B’Av, the Ninth of Av, my heart is heavy with the weight of this day. Tisha B’Av resonates deeply with every Jew—it’s the day we mourn the destruction of our two Temples in Jerusalem, the exile from Spain, and so many other tragedies that have scarred our history, including the Holocaust. And now, as if history itself were echoing back to us, Iran and Hezbollah have chosen this day to threaten Israel with their attacks, using the significance of the day to try to break our spirit.
This isn’t just a military threat; it’s psychological warfare aimed straight at our hearts, designed to fill us with fear and doubt. But as I think about this, I’m reminded of the story of David and Goliath. David, a young shepherd, stood before the giant Goliath, unafraid, with nothing but a slingshot. While everyone else feared, David saw the giant for what he was—a bully he could defeat. And he did so with a single stone. The Talmud also speaks of how the mightiest can be undone by the smallest. These stories remind us that the smallest act of courage can make all the difference!
This year, I’m observing Tisha B’Av here in the Land of Israel, the place our ancestors longed for, which I now call home. There’s something profound about being in this land. Walking through the hills and valleys mentioned in our sacred texts makes the connections feel more immediate and real. These are the same landscapes where David fought Goliath, Jeremiah, and Isaiah walked and prophesied. The words of our sacred texts, which we read together year after year, take on a new resonance when you’re living in the very place where these events unfolded.
Last night, I attended a gathering organized at Rabbi Katz’s Synagogue in Efrat. Despite the somberness of the day, it was a warm, comforting evening. We started with a light supper on the rooftop, sharing food and conversation. As the sky turned dusky pink over the hills of Judea, there was a sense of unity in the air, a quiet strength from being together in these challenging times. Afterward, we moved inside for prayers, talks, and songs.
Hearing Rabbi David Aaron talk about the soul’s journey on Tisha B’Av gave me a new way to think about the day—not just as a time of mourning but as a day of deep spiritual significance. Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein shared the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s perspective on Tisha B’Av. He spoke about the seed of redemption even in our most profound sorrow. It’s a reminder that Tisha B’Av isn’t just about what we’ve lost but also about the hope we carry with us and the belief that we can and will rebuild from these ashes.
As we enter Tisha B’Av tonight, I hold onto that hope. Yes, the threats are real, and the pain of our history is deep, but so is our resilience. Like David, we face our challenges with courage and know that sometimes, the most minor, most unexpected things can make the most significant impact. We are one people with one heart, and that unity is our greatest strength.
May this Tisha B’Av bring us closer to healing and redemption, and may we soon see the day we turn our mourning into joy.