As I sat and listened to the reading of Eicha (Lamentations) this Tisha B'Av, I realized a couple of disturbing things. This, of course, opened up a lengthy philosophical conversation between my husband and myself as to the deeper meaning of the destruction of Yerushalayim and the overall concept of anti-Semitism within an historical context. Here is what I was thinking:
As humans, we were given a gift of bechira chofshis/free choice or free will. It is truly a gift, but can appear as a double edged sword. One the one hand, having the ability to choose right over wrong leads to our receiving reward for our efforts and actions. On the other hand, it also opens up a very large portal for those who may choose wrong over right. We are supposed to consider our every action in terms of right and wrong - Is this how I can improve? Is this correct and in line with Torah and the Creator's will? As Jews, we have so very many implications for each of our actions. We have to do what is right and others (Jews and non-Jews alike) can and are influenced by what we do and how we do it. Making a Kiddush Hashem (honoring the holiness of the Creator and His Name) is of paramount importance but does everyone necessarily keep that thought in the forefront of their minds? Every person can improve themselves and try to respect their fellow. Now how do we help others to do the same? There can be only one answer: When we, individually, do right then others are, in fact, influenced by us.
It is hard, so hard to not lose the main point in the avalanche of details of d'Rabannans (Rabbi enacted rules), gedarim (boundaries enacted to protect people from accidentally breaking a Torah law), and chumrahs (stringencies). What is absolutely necessary and what is not. What is expected due to societal pressures and what is required due to our obligations. Oftentimes, in all of this, it is easy to forget our responsibilities to ourselves and others. So when we get to the Three Weeks and everyone starts talking about respect and our interpersonal behavior (followed up, of course, by Elul into Rosh HaShana), one has to be careful and discerning in what they may take upon themselves. It is nice to be able to commit to reading a portion of the Chofetz Chayim daily, but will the extra demand on your time actually cause you to internalize the lessons he was trying to impart?
Back to my original point. If we are still in galus, still in an unsettled, insecure situation regardless of where in the world we live, then we certainly have to ask ourselves, why? Eicha is describing the horrible destruction perpetrated upon us - but what is the navi's conclusion? That, as terrible as the pain was, we were actually being punished by G-d for doing wrong. But no matter how much we have taken on ourselves "above and beyond", we are STILL in galus. Therefore, we, as a whole people, are continuing to do something wrong and it must be the same basic wrong for which we were exiled in the first place. Which brings us back to respect (not Aretha Franklin) and our dealings with other Jews - or our lack therein. So as I was thinking on Tisha B'Av, the true message of anti-Semitism is for us, the Jews, to realize our lack of security and to rekindle our desire to follow what we are required to do which, ultimately, will bring us back to where we really want to be - Israel and the days of the Mashiach.
L'shana Haba B'Yerushalayim Hab'nuya!
- If the non-Jews all, to a person, forgot tomorrow that the Holocaust had happened, it would not necessarily impact the ultimate lesson of that period in our history as the reminder is for US, the Jews, and -
- Therefore, all occurrences of anti-Semitism would also exist in this line of thinking to remind us of why we are still not living in the "ideal" situation with the Mashiach here and us living in security.
As humans, we were given a gift of bechira chofshis/free choice or free will. It is truly a gift, but can appear as a double edged sword. One the one hand, having the ability to choose right over wrong leads to our receiving reward for our efforts and actions. On the other hand, it also opens up a very large portal for those who may choose wrong over right. We are supposed to consider our every action in terms of right and wrong - Is this how I can improve? Is this correct and in line with Torah and the Creator's will? As Jews, we have so very many implications for each of our actions. We have to do what is right and others (Jews and non-Jews alike) can and are influenced by what we do and how we do it. Making a Kiddush Hashem (honoring the holiness of the Creator and His Name) is of paramount importance but does everyone necessarily keep that thought in the forefront of their minds? Every person can improve themselves and try to respect their fellow. Now how do we help others to do the same? There can be only one answer: When we, individually, do right then others are, in fact, influenced by us.
It is hard, so hard to not lose the main point in the avalanche of details of d'Rabannans (Rabbi enacted rules), gedarim (boundaries enacted to protect people from accidentally breaking a Torah law), and chumrahs (stringencies). What is absolutely necessary and what is not. What is expected due to societal pressures and what is required due to our obligations. Oftentimes, in all of this, it is easy to forget our responsibilities to ourselves and others. So when we get to the Three Weeks and everyone starts talking about respect and our interpersonal behavior (followed up, of course, by Elul into Rosh HaShana), one has to be careful and discerning in what they may take upon themselves. It is nice to be able to commit to reading a portion of the Chofetz Chayim daily, but will the extra demand on your time actually cause you to internalize the lessons he was trying to impart?
Back to my original point. If we are still in galus, still in an unsettled, insecure situation regardless of where in the world we live, then we certainly have to ask ourselves, why? Eicha is describing the horrible destruction perpetrated upon us - but what is the navi's conclusion? That, as terrible as the pain was, we were actually being punished by G-d for doing wrong. But no matter how much we have taken on ourselves "above and beyond", we are STILL in galus. Therefore, we, as a whole people, are continuing to do something wrong and it must be the same basic wrong for which we were exiled in the first place. Which brings us back to respect (not Aretha Franklin) and our dealings with other Jews - or our lack therein. So as I was thinking on Tisha B'Av, the true message of anti-Semitism is for us, the Jews, to realize our lack of security and to rekindle our desire to follow what we are required to do which, ultimately, will bring us back to where we really want to be - Israel and the days of the Mashiach.
L'shana Haba B'Yerushalayim Hab'nuya!
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