Tisha B'av is a major fast day commemorating many calamities in Jewish history that took place on the 9th of the Hebrew month Av (Tesha means "9" in Hebrew). These include the destruction of the First and Second Temples, the declaration of the First Crusade in 1095, the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290, the expulsion of Jews from the Iberian peninsula in 1492, and the beginning of deportations from Warsaw Ghetto to Treblinka concentration camp in 1942.
Do you think it is important to commemorate Tisha B'av today? Why or why not?
Today we are studying the Haftarah portion that is associated with Tisha B'av. As we read, consider why this portion may have been chosen for a day of mourning and rememberance.
Do you think it is important to commemorate Tisha B'av today? Why or why not?
Today we are studying the Haftarah portion that is associated with Tisha B'av. As we read, consider why this portion may have been chosen for a day of mourning and rememberance.
Context:
You may remember from past Haftarah studies that Jeremiah became a prophet around the year 625 BCE and was vocal during the rules of Josiah (640-609 BCE), Jehoiakim (600-598 BCE), Jehoiachin (598-597 BCE), and Zedekiah (597-587 BCE), who served as the final Kings of Judah. Jeremiah continued to be active after the fall of Jerusalem in 586-7 BCE). He prophesied at a time of great challenge for the Jewish people, and today's text exemplifies that.
You may remember from past Haftarah studies that Jeremiah became a prophet around the year 625 BCE and was vocal during the rules of Josiah (640-609 BCE), Jehoiakim (600-598 BCE), Jehoiachin (598-597 BCE), and Zedekiah (597-587 BCE), who served as the final Kings of Judah. Jeremiah continued to be active after the fall of Jerusalem in 586-7 BCE). He prophesied at a time of great challenge for the Jewish people, and today's text exemplifies that.
(יג) אָסֹ֥ף אֲסִיפֵ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה אֵין֩ עֲנָבִ֨ים בַּגֶּ֜פֶן וְאֵ֧ין תְּאֵנִ֣ים בַּתְּאֵנָ֗ה וְהֶעָלֶה֙ נָבֵ֔ל וָאֶתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם יַעַבְרֽוּם׃ (יד) עַל־מָה֙ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ יֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים הֵאָסְפ֗וּ וְנָב֛וֹא אֶל־עָרֵ֥י הַמִּבְצָ֖ר וְנִדְּמָה־שָּׁ֑ם כִּי֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ הֲדִמָּ֙נוּ֙ וַיַּשְׁקֵ֣נוּ מֵי־רֹ֔אשׁ כִּ֥י חָטָ֖אנוּ לַיהֹוָֽה׃ (טו) קַוֵּ֥ה לְשָׁל֖וֹם וְאֵ֣ין ט֑וֹב לְעֵ֥ת מַרְפֵּ֖ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה בְעָתָֽה׃ (טז) מִדָּ֤ן נִשְׁמַע֙ נַחְרַ֣ת סוּסָ֔יו מִקּוֹל֙ מִצְהֲל֣וֹת אַבִּירָ֔יו רָעֲשָׁ֖ה כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּב֗וֹאוּ וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֔הּ עִ֖יר וְיֹ֥שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ {פ}
(יז) כִּי֩ הִנְנִ֨י מְשַׁלֵּ֜חַ בָּכֶ֗ם נְחָשִׁים֙ צִפְעֹנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ם לָ֑חַשׁ וְנִשְּׁכ֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
(יז) כִּי֩ הִנְנִ֨י מְשַׁלֵּ֜חַ בָּכֶ֗ם נְחָשִׁים֙ צִפְעֹנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ם לָ֑חַשׁ וְנִשְּׁכ֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
(13) I will make an end of them
—declares GOD:
No grapes left on the vine,
No figs on the fig tree,
The leaves all withered;
Whatever I have given them is gone. (14) Why are we sitting by?
Let us gather into the fortified cities
And meet our doom there.
For the ETERNAL our God has doomed us—
And has made us drink a bitter draft,
Because we sinned against GOD. (15) We hoped for good fortune, but no happiness came;
For a time of relief—instead there is terror! (16) The snorting of their horses was heard from Dan;
At the loud neighing of their steeds
The whole land quaked.
They came and devoured the land and what was in it,
The towns and those who dwelt in them. (17) Lo, I will send serpents against you,
Adders that cannot be charmed,
And they shall bite you
—declares GOD.
—declares GOD:
No grapes left on the vine,
No figs on the fig tree,
The leaves all withered;
Whatever I have given them is gone. (14) Why are we sitting by?
Let us gather into the fortified cities
And meet our doom there.
For the ETERNAL our God has doomed us—
And has made us drink a bitter draft,
Because we sinned against GOD. (15) We hoped for good fortune, but no happiness came;
For a time of relief—instead there is terror! (16) The snorting of their horses was heard from Dan;
At the loud neighing of their steeds
The whole land quaked.
They came and devoured the land and what was in it,
The towns and those who dwelt in them. (17) Lo, I will send serpents against you,
Adders that cannot be charmed,
And they shall bite you
—declares GOD.
Jeremiah laments the doom that his people face. What are some of the examples he uses to demonstrate the terror the people are facing, and why are they so important?
(יח) מַבְלִ֥יגִיתִ֖י עֲלֵ֣י יָג֑וֹן עָלַ֖י לִבִּ֥י דַוָּֽי׃ (יט) הִנֵּה־ק֞וֹל שַֽׁוְעַ֣ת בַּת־עַמִּ֗י מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ מַרְחַקִּ֔ים הַֽיהֹוָה֙ אֵ֣ין בְּצִיּ֔וֹן אִם־מַלְכָּ֖הּ אֵ֣ין בָּ֑הּ מַדּ֗וּעַ הִכְעִס֛וּנִי בִּפְסִלֵיהֶ֖ם בְּהַבְלֵ֥י נֵכָֽר׃ (כ) עָבַ֥ר קָצִ֖יר כָּ֣לָה קָ֑יִץ וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ ל֥וֹא נוֹשָֽׁעְנוּ׃ (כא) עַל־שֶׁ֥בֶר בַּת־עַמִּ֖י הׇשְׁבָּ֑רְתִּי קָדַ֕רְתִּי שַׁמָּ֖ה הֶחֱזִקָֽתְנִי׃ (כב) הַצֳּרִי֙ אֵ֣ין בְּגִלְעָ֔ד אִם־רֹפֵ֖א אֵ֣ין שָׁ֑ם כִּ֗י מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ לֹ֣א עָֽלְתָ֔ה אֲרֻכַ֖ת בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ {ס} (כג) מִֽי־יִתֵּ֤ן רֹאשִׁי֙ מַ֔יִם וְעֵינִ֖י מְק֣וֹר דִּמְעָ֑ה וְאֶבְכֶּה֙ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה אֵ֖ת חַֽלְלֵ֥י בַת־עַמִּֽי׃ {ס}
(18) When in grief I would seek comfort,
My heart is sick within me. (19) “Is not GOD in Zion?
Is not her Sovereign in her midst?
Why then did they anger Me with their images,
With alien futilities?”
Hark! The outcry of my poor people
From the land far and wide: (20) “Harvest is past,
Summer is gone,
But we have not been saved.” (21) Because my people is shattered I am shattered;
I am dejected, seized by desolation. (22) Is there no balm in Gilead?
Can no physician be found?
Why has healing not yet
Come to my poor people? (23) Oh, that my head were water,
My eyes a fount of tears!
Then would I weep day and night
For the slain of my poor people.
My heart is sick within me. (19) “Is not GOD in Zion?
Is not her Sovereign in her midst?
Why then did they anger Me with their images,
With alien futilities?”
Hark! The outcry of my poor people
From the land far and wide: (20) “Harvest is past,
Summer is gone,
But we have not been saved.” (21) Because my people is shattered I am shattered;
I am dejected, seized by desolation. (22) Is there no balm in Gilead?
Can no physician be found?
Why has healing not yet
Come to my poor people? (23) Oh, that my head were water,
My eyes a fount of tears!
Then would I weep day and night
For the slain of my poor people.
Jeremiah's voice shines through this passage in a way that unusually emotional, and personal for a prophet. How does Jeremiah respond to the people's suffering? How do his words add to the feeling the text illicits in us?
(א) מִֽי־יִתְּנֵ֣נִי בַמִּדְבָּ֗ר מְלוֹן֙ אֹֽרְחִ֔ים וְאֶֽעֶזְבָה֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וְאֵלְכָ֖ה מֵֽאִתָּ֑ם כִּ֤י כֻלָּם֙ מְנָ֣אֲפִ֔ים עֲצֶ֖רֶת בֹּגְדִֽים׃ (ב) וַֽיַּדְרְכ֤וּ אֶת־לְשׁוֹנָם֙ קַשְׁתָּ֣ם שֶׁ֔קֶר וְלֹ֥א לֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה גָּבְר֣וּ בָאָ֑רֶץ כִּי֩ מֵרָעָ֨ה אֶל־רָעָ֧ה ׀ יָצָ֛אוּ וְאֹתִ֥י לֹא־יָדָ֖עוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ג) אִ֤ישׁ מֵרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ הִשָּׁמֵ֔רוּ וְעַל־כׇּל־אָ֖ח אַל־תִּבְטָ֑חוּ כִּ֤י כׇל־אָח֙ עָק֣וֹב יַעְקֹ֔ב וְכׇל־רֵ֖עַ רָכִ֥יל יַהֲלֹֽךְ׃ (ד) וְאִ֤ישׁ בְּרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ יְהָתֵ֔לּוּ וֶאֱמֶ֖ת לֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ לִמְּד֧וּ לְשׁוֹנָ֛ם דַּבֶּר־שֶׁ֖קֶר הַעֲוֵ֥ה נִלְאֽוּ׃ (ה) שִׁבְתְּךָ֖ בְּת֣וֹךְ מִרְמָ֑ה בְּמִרְמָ֛ה מֵאֲנ֥וּ דַעַת־אוֹתִ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} (ו) לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִנְנִ֥י צוֹרְפָ֖ם וּבְחַנְתִּ֑ים כִּי־אֵ֣יךְ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ (ז) חֵ֥ץ (שוחט) [שָׁח֛וּט] לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם מִרְמָ֣ה דִבֵּ֑ר בְּפִ֗יו שָׁל֤וֹם אֶת־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ יְדַבֵּ֔ר וּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹ יָשִׂ֥ים אׇרְבּֽוֹ׃
(1) Oh, to be in the desert,
At an encampment for wayfarers!
Oh, to leave my people,
To go away from them—
For they are all adulterers,
A band of rogues. (2) They bend their tongues like bows;
They are valorous in the land
For treachery, not for honesty;
They advance from evil to evil.
And they do not heed Me
—declares GOD. (3) Each of you, beware of your friend!
Trust not even your kinsfolk!
For every sibling takes advantage,
Every friend deals basely. (4) They all cheat each other,
They will not speak truth;
They have trained their tongues to speak falsely;
They wear themselves out working iniquity. (5) You dwell in the midst of deceit.
In their deceit, they refuse to heed Me
—declares GOD. (6) Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts:
Lo, I shall smelt and assay them—
For what else can I do because of My poor people? (7) Their tongue is a sharpened arrow,
They use their mouths to deceive.
They speak to their fellows in friendship,
But lay an ambush for them in their hearts.
At an encampment for wayfarers!
Oh, to leave my people,
To go away from them—
For they are all adulterers,
A band of rogues. (2) They bend their tongues like bows;
They are valorous in the land
For treachery, not for honesty;
They advance from evil to evil.
And they do not heed Me
—declares GOD. (3) Each of you, beware of your friend!
Trust not even your kinsfolk!
For every sibling takes advantage,
Every friend deals basely. (4) They all cheat each other,
They will not speak truth;
They have trained their tongues to speak falsely;
They wear themselves out working iniquity. (5) You dwell in the midst of deceit.
In their deceit, they refuse to heed Me
—declares GOD. (6) Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts:
Lo, I shall smelt and assay them—
For what else can I do because of My poor people? (7) Their tongue is a sharpened arrow,
They use their mouths to deceive.
They speak to their fellows in friendship,
But lay an ambush for them in their hearts.
Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, in Prophetic Voices: Renewing and Reminaging Haftarah, p. 435-6
Jeremiah calls out to God in anguish and frustration; to the people around him, he calls attention to the unfolding disaster. He sees the corruption of leaders and everyday people alike. Like them, our hearts are misguided--like them, we lie and deceive our sisters and brothers. And, like them, we use our power for ill (Jeremiah 9:2-4, 7).
When we read how they hoped for well-being though no good came, how they hoped for healing but instead terror came, Jeremiah 8;15 is eerily reminiscent of our current situation. In a weird twist, it seems the people Israel have become their own Pharaohs, with hardened hearts attuned only to their own desires (Jeremiah 9:20). Now it is we who abuse power, who take advantage of others.
But God doesn't want that. God mourns for the straying of the flock (Jeremiah 8:19-23). Witnessing creation profaning itself--again--tears apart the Creator then as now. In a final plea, God calls on us to sound an alarm "Send for the skilled women" (Jeremiah 9:16) to use their wisdom and skill to rouse people from their intransigence and stubborn clinging to evil! This is what God wants from us: to be kind, just, and merciful... let us heed the prophet's words and help each other to be healers of our deepest psychic wounds.
Jeremiah calls out to God in anguish and frustration; to the people around him, he calls attention to the unfolding disaster. He sees the corruption of leaders and everyday people alike. Like them, our hearts are misguided--like them, we lie and deceive our sisters and brothers. And, like them, we use our power for ill (Jeremiah 9:2-4, 7).
When we read how they hoped for well-being though no good came, how they hoped for healing but instead terror came, Jeremiah 8;15 is eerily reminiscent of our current situation. In a weird twist, it seems the people Israel have become their own Pharaohs, with hardened hearts attuned only to their own desires (Jeremiah 9:20). Now it is we who abuse power, who take advantage of others.
But God doesn't want that. God mourns for the straying of the flock (Jeremiah 8:19-23). Witnessing creation profaning itself--again--tears apart the Creator then as now. In a final plea, God calls on us to sound an alarm "Send for the skilled women" (Jeremiah 9:16) to use their wisdom and skill to rouse people from their intransigence and stubborn clinging to evil! This is what God wants from us: to be kind, just, and merciful... let us heed the prophet's words and help each other to be healers of our deepest psychic wounds.
(ח) הַֽעַל־אֵ֥לֶּה לֹא־אֶפְקׇד־בָּ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה אִ֚ם בְּג֣וֹי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃ {ס} (ט) עַל־הֶ֨הָרִ֜ים אֶשָּׂ֧א בְכִ֣י וָנֶ֗הִי וְעַל־נְא֤וֹת מִדְבָּר֙ קִינָ֔ה כִּ֤י נִצְּתוּ֙ מִבְּלִי־אִ֣ישׁ עֹבֵ֔ר וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ ק֣וֹל מִקְנֶ֑ה מֵע֤וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה נָדְד֖וּ הָלָֽכוּ׃ (י) וְנָתַתִּ֧י אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם לְגַלִּ֖ים מְע֣וֹן תַּנִּ֑ים וְאֶת־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה אֶתֵּ֥ן שְׁמָמָ֖ה מִבְּלִ֖י יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ {ס} (יא) מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הֶחָכָם֙ וְיָבֵ֣ן אֶת־זֹ֔את וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר פִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו וְיַגִּדָ֑הּ עַל־מָה֙ אָבְדָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ נִצְּתָ֥ה כַמִּדְבָּ֖ר מִבְּלִ֖י עֹבֵֽר׃ {ס} (יב) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־עׇזְבָם֙ אֶת־תּ֣וֹרָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְלֹא־שָׁמְע֥וּ בְקוֹלִ֖י וְלֹא־הָ֥לְכוּ בָֽהּ׃ (יג) וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ אַחֲרֵ֖י שְׁרִר֣וּת לִבָּ֑ם וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַבְּעָלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִמְּד֖וּם אֲבוֹתָֽם׃ {פ}
(יד) לָכֵ֗ן כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִ֧י מַאֲכִילָ֛ם אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה לַעֲנָ֑ה וְהִשְׁקִיתִ֖ים מֵי־רֹֽאשׁ׃ (טו) וַהֲפִֽצוֹתִים֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יָדְע֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַאֲבוֹתָ֑ם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤י אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב עַ֥ד כַּלּוֹתִ֖י אוֹתָֽם׃ {פ}
(יד) לָכֵ֗ן כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִ֧י מַאֲכִילָ֛ם אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה לַעֲנָ֑ה וְהִשְׁקִיתִ֖ים מֵי־רֹֽאשׁ׃ (טו) וַהֲפִֽצוֹתִים֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יָדְע֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַאֲבוֹתָ֑ם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤י אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב עַ֥ד כַּלּוֹתִ֖י אוֹתָֽם׃ {פ}
(8) Shall I not punish them for such deeds?
—says GOD —
Shall I not bring retribution
On such a nation as this? (9) For the mountains I take up weeping and wailing,
For the pastures in the wilderness, a dirge.
They are laid waste; nobody passes through,
And no sound of cattle is heard.
Birds of the sky and beasts as well
Have fled and are gone. (10) I will turn Jerusalem into rubble,
Into dens for jackals;
And I will make the towns of Judah
A desolation without inhabitants. (11) Is anybody so wise
As to understand this?
To whom has GOD’s mouth spoken,
So that it can be related:
Why is the land in ruins,
Laid waste like a wilderness,
With none passing through?
(12) GOD replied: Because they forsook the Teaching I had set before them. They did not obey Me and they did not follow it, (13) but followed their own willful heart and followed the Baalim, as their ancestors had taught them. (14) Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to feed that people wormwood and make them drink a bitter draft. (15) I will scatter them among nations that they and their ancestors never knew; and I will dispatch the sword after them until I have consumed them.
—says GOD —
Shall I not bring retribution
On such a nation as this? (9) For the mountains I take up weeping and wailing,
For the pastures in the wilderness, a dirge.
They are laid waste; nobody passes through,
And no sound of cattle is heard.
Birds of the sky and beasts as well
Have fled and are gone. (10) I will turn Jerusalem into rubble,
Into dens for jackals;
And I will make the towns of Judah
A desolation without inhabitants. (11) Is anybody so wise
As to understand this?
To whom has GOD’s mouth spoken,
So that it can be related:
Why is the land in ruins,
Laid waste like a wilderness,
With none passing through?
(12) GOD replied: Because they forsook the Teaching I had set before them. They did not obey Me and they did not follow it, (13) but followed their own willful heart and followed the Baalim, as their ancestors had taught them. (14) Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to feed that people wormwood and make them drink a bitter draft. (15) I will scatter them among nations that they and their ancestors never knew; and I will dispatch the sword after them until I have consumed them.
(טז) כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִתְבּ֥וֹנְנ֛וּ וְקִרְא֥וּ לַמְקוֹנְנ֖וֹת וּתְבוֹאֶ֑ינָה וְאֶל־הַחֲכָמ֥וֹת שִׁלְח֖וּ וְתָבֽוֹאנָה׃ (יז) וּתְמַהֵ֕רְנָה וְתִשֶּׂ֥נָה עָלֵ֖ינוּ נֶ֑הִי וְתֵרַ֤דְנָה עֵינֵ֙ינוּ֙ דִּמְעָ֔ה וְעַפְעַפֵּ֖ינוּ יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם׃
(16) Thus said GOD of Hosts:
Listen!
Summon the dirge-singers, let them come;
Send for the skilled women, let them come. (17) Let them quickly start a wailing for us,
That our eyes may run with tears,
Our pupils flow with water.
Listen!
Summon the dirge-singers, let them come;
Send for the skilled women, let them come. (17) Let them quickly start a wailing for us,
That our eyes may run with tears,
Our pupils flow with water.
Why does Jeremiah want the Israelites to wail? What purpose does wailing have in this context? Why is it so important?
What might this suggest about the reasoning why we mourn on Tisha B'av?
What might this suggest about the reasoning why we mourn on Tisha B'av?
Cantor Judith Borden Ovadia, in Prophetic Voices: Renewing and Reminaging Haftarah, p. 435
The text implies that effective grieving requires the support of both ritual and community. This sort of weeping and wailing that God ordains is rarely witnessed in our culture today. We avoid public displays of emotion. Each of us, however, experiences grief. Whether it is over the death of a loved one or the subtle kind that accompanies the transition from one stage of life to the next, grief is part of our emotional reality. Tisha B'av observances offer ritual spaces and times for grieving-- whether we direct our consciousness toward the text or allow ourselves to express a more personal grief-- through which we may exorcise some of the psychological barriers that stand between us and true cheshbon hanefesh, an "accounting of the soul." This accounting is crucial if we are to make a meaningful attempt at t'shuvah (repentance).
The text implies that effective grieving requires the support of both ritual and community. This sort of weeping and wailing that God ordains is rarely witnessed in our culture today. We avoid public displays of emotion. Each of us, however, experiences grief. Whether it is over the death of a loved one or the subtle kind that accompanies the transition from one stage of life to the next, grief is part of our emotional reality. Tisha B'av observances offer ritual spaces and times for grieving-- whether we direct our consciousness toward the text or allow ourselves to express a more personal grief-- through which we may exorcise some of the psychological barriers that stand between us and true cheshbon hanefesh, an "accounting of the soul." This accounting is crucial if we are to make a meaningful attempt at t'shuvah (repentance).
(יח) כִּ֣י ק֥וֹל נְהִ֛י נִשְׁמַ֥ע מִצִּיּ֖וֹן אֵ֣יךְ שֻׁדָּ֑דְנוּ בֹּ֤שְׁנֽוּ מְאֹד֙ כִּֽי־עָזַ֣בְנוּ אָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י הִשְׁלִ֖יכוּ מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ {ס} (יט) כִּֽי־שְׁמַ֤עְנָה נָשִׁים֙ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְתִקַּ֥ח אׇזְנְכֶ֖ם דְּבַר־פִּ֑יו וְלַמֵּ֤דְנָה בְנֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ נֶ֔הִי וְאִשָּׁ֥ה רְעוּתָ֖הּ קִינָֽה׃ (כ) כִּי־עָ֤לָֽה מָ֙וֶת֙ בְּחַלּוֹנֵ֔ינוּ בָּ֖א בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְהַכְרִ֤ית עוֹלָל֙ מִח֔וּץ בַּֽחוּרִ֖ים מֵרְחֹבֽוֹת׃ (כא) דַּבֵּ֗ר כֹּ֚ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנָֽפְלָה֙ נִבְלַ֣ת הָאָדָ֔ם כְּדֹ֖מֶן עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּכְעָמִ֛יר מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י הַקֹּצֵ֖ר וְאֵ֥ין מְאַסֵּֽף׃ {ס} (כב) כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל חָכָם֙ בְּחׇכְמָת֔וֹ וְאַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל הַגִּבּ֖וֹר בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל עָשִׁ֖יר בְּעׇשְׁרֽוֹ׃ (כג) כִּ֣י אִם־בְּזֹ֞את יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל הַשְׂכֵּל֮ וְיָדֹ֣עַ אוֹתִי֒ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עֹ֥שֶׂה חֶ֛סֶד מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־בְאֵ֥לֶּה חָפַ֖צְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
(18) For the sound of wailing
Is heard from Zion:
How we are despoiled!
How greatly we are shamed!
Ah, we must leave our land,
Abandon our dwellings! (19) Hear, O women, the word of GOD,
Let your ears receive the divine word,
And teach your daughters wailing,
And one another lamentation. (20) For death has climbed through our windows,
Has entered our fortresses,
To cut off babes from the streets,
Young men from the squares. (21) Speak thus—says GOD:
People’s carcasses shall lie
Like dung upon the fields,
Like sheaves behind the reaper,
With none to pick them up. (22) Thus said GOD:
Let not the wise glory in their wisdom;
Let not the strong glory in their strength;
Let not the rich glory in their riches. (23) But only in this should one glory:
In being earnestly devoted to Me.
For I GOD act with kindness,
Justice, and equity in the world;
For in these I delight
—declares GOD.
Is heard from Zion:
How we are despoiled!
How greatly we are shamed!
Ah, we must leave our land,
Abandon our dwellings! (19) Hear, O women, the word of GOD,
Let your ears receive the divine word,
And teach your daughters wailing,
And one another lamentation. (20) For death has climbed through our windows,
Has entered our fortresses,
To cut off babes from the streets,
Young men from the squares. (21) Speak thus—says GOD:
People’s carcasses shall lie
Like dung upon the fields,
Like sheaves behind the reaper,
With none to pick them up. (22) Thus said GOD:
Let not the wise glory in their wisdom;
Let not the strong glory in their strength;
Let not the rich glory in their riches. (23) But only in this should one glory:
In being earnestly devoted to Me.
For I GOD act with kindness,
Justice, and equity in the world;
For in these I delight
—declares GOD.
Over the course of the year, we have come across many texts describing Israel's punishment for sins. Often these texts are troubling and may even make us uncomfortable. Why then are they so central to our tradition? What do we hope to gain from them?
Tisha B'av plays a less central role in liberal Jewish communities, but is nonetheless a major Jewish holiday. Why do you think its popularity has waned? Is it improtant to commemorate? What can we learn from Tisha B'av?
Tisha B'av plays a less central role in liberal Jewish communities, but is nonetheless a major Jewish holiday. Why do you think its popularity has waned? Is it improtant to commemorate? What can we learn from Tisha B'av?