A Chronology of Tish'a B'Av Throughout the Generations
- 1200 BCE G-d decrees that the Israelites wander for 40 years for heeding the 10 scouts’ bad report of the Promised Land, one year for each day the scouts were in Canaan, contending that this day—Tishah B’Av—will be forever a day of disaster for the Jewish people.
- 586 BCE Babylonian armies (under Nebuchadnezzar) destroy King Solomon’s Temple; we lose our sovereignty, and exile begins.
- 70 CE Roman legions under Titus crush the Jewish revolt, destroy the Second Temple, murder thousands and carry off most of the rest into slavery and exile.
- 3 CE Masada falls. Jewish zealots there commit mass suicide rather than cede to the Romans.
- 117 CE Romans decisively overwhelm the Jews in Alexandria.
- 135 CE Betar, the last stronghold of the Bar Kochba rebellion (under Rabbi Akiva’s influence), is captured, with over 100,000 Jews killed.
- 136 CE The Roman emperor Hadrian completely plows over Jerusalem, then rebuilds it as a pagan city (Aelia Capitolina), establishing a heathen sanctuary on the Temple mount, and forbids Jews from entering the city, even to bury our dead on the Mount of Olives. Eretz Yisrael is renamed Palestina (“Philistine” Land).
- 1096 CE The First Crusade brings destruction to the Jewish communities (over 10,000 killed in the first month alone) of the Rhine Valley.
- 1146 CE The Second Crusade destroys the Jewish communities of Germany and France.
- 1189 CE The Third Crusade leads to bloody anti-Jewish rioting all over England.
- 1190 CE The Jews of York are slaughtered.
- 1242 CE The Talmud and other Holy Writings are publicly burned in Paris.
- 1290 CE King Edward expels all Jews from England.
- 1306 CE Jew are expelled from France. 1480 CE The Spanish Inquisition begins to “reclaim the souls” of Jews by burning their bodies.
- 1492 CE The Jews are expelled from Spain.
- 1496 CE The Jews are expelled from Portugal.
- 1498 CE The Jews are expelled from Andorra
- 1555 CE The Jews of Rome are forced into a ghetto.
- 1571 CE The Jews of Florence are forced into a ghetto.
- 1630 CE The Jews of Mantua are expelled.
- 1648 CE Chelmnitzky, the Ukrainian national hero, and his hordes massacre Polish Jews.
- 1670 CE The Jews are forced out of Vienna.
- 1684 CEA two-week pogrom erupts against the Jews of Padua.
- 1882 CE Pogroms sweep tsarist Russia.
- 1914 CE World War I breaks out, during which many Jewish communities are wiped out in pogroms.
- 1929 CE Arab attacks against Jews erupt over the issue of access to the Western Wall.
- 1941 CE Hungary expels stateless Jews in Carpathian Ruthenia. A fine of 100,000 rubles is imposed on the Jews of Bazlav, Podolia (Ukraine). The SS murders 600 Jews in Targovica, Volhynia Ukraine). The Ukrainians shoot 45 Jews in the village of Otynia, Stanislavov province, Poland (Ukraine). 4 Message from Brenda Rich
- 1942 CE Nazis convene at Wannsee, Germany and finalize their plans for the “Final Solution” to the Jewish problem. The deportations to Treblinka extermination camp (Poland) begin from the Warsaw Ghetto. 1943 CE From Wadovice, Cracow district (Poland), 2,000 Jews are deported to Auschwitz.
- 1944 CE From Toulouse, France 166 Jews are deported to Auschwitz.
- 1969 CE El Al plane by terrorists, the only plane Israel lost to terrorism.
- 1994 CE The Jewish community center in Buenos shot down Aires was bombed, killing 86 and wounding 300 others.
(א) בִּשְׁנַ֣ת שָׁל֗וֹשׁ לְכ֙וֹרֶשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס דָּבָר֙ נִגְלָ֣ה לְדָֽנִיֵּ֔אל אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֑ר וֶאֱמֶ֤ת הַדָּבָר֙ וְצָבָ֣א גָד֔וֹל וּבִין֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֔ר וּבִ֥ינָה ל֖וֹ בַּמַּרְאֶֽה׃ (ב) בַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵ֑ם אֲנִ֤י דָֽנִיֵּאל֙ הָיִ֣יתִי מִתְאַבֵּ֔ל שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה שָׁבֻעִ֖ים יָמִֽים׃ (ג) לֶ֣חֶם חֲמֻד֞וֹת לֹ֣א אָכַ֗לְתִּי וּבָשָׂ֥ר וָיַ֛יִן לֹא־בָ֥א אֶל־פִּ֖י וְס֣וֹךְ לֹא־סָ֑כְתִּי עַד־מְלֹ֕את שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת שָׁבֻעִ֖ים יָמִֽים׃ (פ)
(ג) גָּֽלְתָ֨ה יְהוּדָ֤ה מֵעֹ֙נִי֙ וּמֵרֹ֣ב עֲבֹדָ֔ה הִ֚יא יָשְׁבָ֣ה בַגּוֹיִ֔ם לֹ֥א מָצְאָ֖ה מָנ֑וֹחַ כָּל־רֹדְפֶ֥יהָ הִשִּׂיג֖וּהָ בֵּ֥ין הַמְּצָרִֽים׃ (ס)
(כט) ..... כל רודפיה השיגוה בין המצרים. ביומין דעקא משבעה עשר בתמוז עד תשעה באב
אמר הקב"ה לא אבוא בירושלים של מעלה עד שאבוא לירושלים של מטה
אקמצא ובר קמצא חרוב ירושלים דההוא גברא דרחמיה קמצא ובעל דבביה בר קמצא עבד סעודתא אמר ליה לשמעיה זיל אייתי לי קמצא אזל אייתי ליה בר קמצא אתא אשכחיה דהוה יתיב אמר ליה מכדי ההוא גברא בעל דבבא דההוא גברא הוא מאי בעית הכא קום פוק אמר ליה הואיל ואתאי שבקן ויהיבנא לך דמי מה דאכילנא ושתינא
Because of Kamtsa and Bar Kamtsa, Jerusalem was destroyed: As a certain man whose friend was Kamtsa and whose enemy was Bar Kamtsa arranged a banquet. He said to his servant, "Bring me Kamtsa." He went [and, instead,] he brought him Bar Kamtsa. He came [and] found that he was sitting. He said to him, "How is this? That man is an enemy of this man. What do you want here? Get up and go away!" He said to him, "Since I have [already] come, leave us and I will give you money for that that which I eat and drink."
He said to him, "No." He said to him, "I will give you money for half of your banquet." He said to him, "No." He said to him, "I will give you money for all of your banquet." He said to him, "No." He took him by the hand and picked him up and removed him. He said [to himself], Since there were rabbis sitting there and they did not protest, it is implied that it was acceptable to them. I will go and tale-bear against them at the king's court. He went and he told the Caesar, "The Jews are rebelling against you." He said to him, "How can one tell?" He said to him, "Send them a sacrifice - see if they will sacrifice it." He proceeded to send with him a fattened calf. While he was coming, he placed a blemish in its upper lip, and some say in the white of its eye - a place that for us is [considered] a blemish and for them is not [considered] a blemish. The Rabbis thought to sacrifice it for the sake of peaceful relations with the government. Rabbi Zecharia ben Avkulos said to them, "They will say 'Blemished animals can be sacrificed on the altar.'" They thought to kill him, [so] that he not go and say [what happened]. Rabbi Zecharia ben Avkulos said to them, "They will say 'One that places a blemish on consecrated animals is [to be] killed.'" Rabbi Yochanan said, "The humility of Rabbi Zecharia ben Avkulos destroyed our Temple and burned our Sanctuary and exiled us from our land."
(ז) אקברה שם וְלֹא הוֹלַכְתִּיהָ אֲפִילּוּ לְבֵית לֶחֶם לְהַכְנִיסָהּ לָאָרֶץ, וְיָדַעְתִּי, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּלִבְּךָ עָלַי; אֲבָל דַּע לָךְ, שֶׁעַל פִּי הַדִּבּוּר קְבַרְתִּיהָ שָׁם, שֶׁתְּהֵא לְעֶזְרָה לְבָנֶיהָ כְּשֶׁיַּגְלֶה אוֹתָם נְבוּזַרַאְדָּן, וְהָיוּ עוֹבְרִים דֶּרֶךְ שָׁם, יוֹצֵאת רָחֵל עַל קִבְרָהּ וּבוֹכָה וּמְבַקֶּשֶׁת עֲלֵיהֶם רַחֲמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר קוֹל בָּרָמָה נִשְׁמָע וְגוֹ' וְהַקָּבָּ"ה מְשִׁיבָהּ יֵשׁ שָׂכָר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ נְאֻם ה' וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם (ירמיהו ל"א)
(7) ואקברה שם AND I BURIED HER THERE and did not carry her even the short distance to Bethlehem to bring her into a city. I know that in your heart you feel some resentment against me. Know, however, that I buried her there by the command of God”. And the future proved that God had commanded him to do this in order that she might help her children when Nebuzaradan would take them into captivity. For when .they were passing along that road Rachel came forth from her grave and stood by her tomb weeping and beseeching mercy for them, as it is said, (Jeremiah 31:15) “A voice is heard in Rama, [the sound of weeping … Rachel weeping for her children]”, and the Holy One, blessed be He, replied to her (v. 16) “There is a reward for thy work, says the Lord etc. (v. 17) for thy children will return to their own border”.
(י) ותמת רחל ותקבר, בדרך אפרת היא בית לחם מה ראה אבינו יעקב לקבור את רחל בדרך אפרת? אלא, צפה יעקב אבינו, שהגליות עתידות לעבור שם, לפיכך קברה שם, כדי שתהא מבקשת עליהם רחמים. הה"ד (שם): קול ברמה נשמע, נהי בכי תמרורים, רחל מבכה על בניה וגו' כה אמר ה' מנעי קולך מבכי וגו' ויש תקוה לאחריתך וגו':
(15) Thus said the LORD: A cry is heard in Ramah— Wailing, bitter weeping— Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted For her children, who are gone. (16) Thus said the LORD: Restrain your voice from weeping, Your eyes from shedding tears; For there is a reward for your labor —declares the LORD: They shall return from the enemy’s land. (17) And there is hope for your future —declares the LORD: Your children shall return to their country.
משמע שרחל אמינו ע"ה מסוגלת יותר מכל האבות והאמהות לקבץ את בניה מן הגלות עד שיתקיים "ושבו בנים לגבולם"וכך הסבירו חז"ל במדרש את זכותה של רחל:
"באותה שעה קפצה רחל אמנו לפני הקב"ה ואמרה: רבש"ע! גלוי לפניך, שיעקב עבדך אהבני אהבה יתירה, ועבד בשבילי לאבא שבע שנים, וכשהשלימו אותן שבע שנים, והגיע זמן נשואי לבעלי, יעץ אבי להחליפני לבעלי בשביל אחותי, והוקשה עלי הדבר עד מאד, כי נודעה לי העצה, והודעתי לבעלי ומסרתי לו סימן, שיכיר ביני ובין אחותי כדי שלא יוכל אבי להחליפני, ולאחר כן נחמתי בעצמי וסבלתי את תאותי ורחמתי על אחותי שלא תצא לחרפה, ולערב חלפו אחותי לבעלי בשבילי, ומסרתי לאחותי כל הסימנין שמסרתי לבעלי כדי שיהא סבור שהיא רחל, ולא עוד אלא שנכנסתי תחת המטה שהיה שוכב עם אחותי והיה מדבר עמה והיא שותקת ואני מישיבתו על כל דבר ודבר, כדי שלא יכיר לקול אחותי וגמלתי חסד עמה, ולא קנאתי בה ולא הוצאתיה לחרפה, ומה אני שאני בשר ודם עפר ואפר לא קנאתי לצרה שלי ולא הוצאתיה לבושה ולחרפה, ואתה מלך חי וקיים רחמן מפני מה קנאת לעבודת כוכבים שאין בה ממש והגלית בני ונהרגו בחרב ועשו אויבים בם כרצונם,
מיד נתגלגלו רחמיו של הקדוש ברוך הוא ואמר בשבילך רחל אני מחזיר את ישראל למקומן הדא הוא דכתיב (ירמיה ל"א) כה אמר ה' קול ברמה נשמע נהי בכי תמרורים רחל מבכה על בניה מאנה להנחם על בניה כי איננו, וכתיב (שם ירמיהו ל"א) כה אמר ה' מנעי קולך מבכי ועיניך מדמעה כי יש שכר לפעולתך וגו' וכתיב (שם ירמיהו ל"א) ויש תקוה לאחריתך נאם ה' ושבו בנים לגבולם".
#BringBackOurBoys- by Chaya Kaplan Lester, Jerusalem Poet, Summer 2014
...
I’m sitting here shocked that the sun rose today. Going about my automatic daily tasks…all the while, framed with a backdrop of uneasy angry grief over the kidnapping of these 3. Our boys. Fluctuating between prayerfulness & anguish…disturbed and stirred. With little left to do but give word….
can not talk about forgiveness
I only want vengeance
for these innocent stolen treasures.
I am deeply triggered for my people…
post traumatic stress disorder-ed
from Hitler to Hamas – will there be no end to the horrors.
We are the haunted, the hunted
sons and daughters of prophets
the parents of soldiers
and students abducted
-- for no fault of their own...
Dear Lord bring them home...
Unscathed unstoned - bring them home...
Guard them, guide them
let their captors stumble like blind men
that we might find them - lift them
safely gently seamlessly
as the streams of prayers
flow endlessly
from our mouths
as we learn Your Torah
as we walk Your streets
and weep with every eye we meet.
Reminded that we are bound together in this
endeavor of care and prayer...
wasted and weathered with despair
*
What else can we do?
I don't know...
Write a poem?
Rip your clothes?
Go to the Kotel?
Pray it's gonna end well...
Let your voices swell...
For we are the disturbed, the greatly stirred.
Let us - at the very least - give word....
Let's be forces of friendship
of godliness, of justice
with a breathless wish for
the end to this horror flick.
Return our sons
they're only kids...
Return our sons
they're only kids...
awake by the notion
that there is a war down the street.
Sleep seems like a luxury
I am too poor to keep…
Listening for those silent sirens that don’t stop ringing
those explosions that don’t stop exploding
Known in bone and 6th sense of sleeplessness...
Listening like you listen when there is a robber in the house
Listening like you listen when the world is a furnace
And you are a forest
*
And fire is a trauma
Of ungodly proportions…
Listening in a way I never learned to listen
in Memphis Tennessee, in Berkeley, in the Ivy Leagues.
Listening like an Israeli…
I have new ears now
And old wisdom
And wet eyes
...and children
Yes, that is how I listen now
sleepless as a woman
- in Israel
- with children...
- "The act of prayer is worthy, no matter what the outcome".
- “Each prayer has its own work to do. There is no senseless act of love and charity. A good act stands on its own,”
- “You can not always change a decree. For us it was too late.”
- "We will have to learn to sing without you".
.... אמרו כל דור שאינו נבנה בימיו מעלין עליו כאילו הוא החריבו.
Any generation in which the Beis Hamikdosh is not rebuilt is considered as if they had destroyed it.