As we are all aware, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of US Congress this past Wednesday, had separate meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House yesterday, and is scheduled to meet with former President Donald Trump today. His visit to the US is fraught with antisemitic and anti-Zionist attacks, concern about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, as well as continued hope that this visit will continue to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Israel.
Netanyahu’s visit to the US Congress occurs the day after a traditional fast day on our Jewish calendar: “The 17th of Tammuz.” It marks the day the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans in 69 ce and marks the beginning of a three-week period leading up to
Tisha B’Av (this period has the very original name of “The Three Weeks).
Tisha B’Av (the 9th of Av) commemorates the destruction of both the First Temple in Jerusalem (destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 bce) and the Second Temple (destroyed by the Romans in 70 ce). It also commemorates other calamities that befell the Jewish people. This year, following the horrific events of October 7th,
Tisha B’Av will take on new poignancy and meaning. Temple Beth Sholom will join with several other Orange County congregations for a communal
Tisha B’Av observance and study session on Monday evening, August 12th (see below for details).
I share the words of my dear Israeli friend, Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (the Israeli Reform Movement) who wrote on Wednesday:
On October 7th, our sense of security in our homes and country was shaken. Our physical walls and internal defenses were breached, and we learned that sovereignty, both political and spiritual, is precious and delicate. This modern breach may feel like a contemporary 17th of Tammuz to some. However, despite these attacks, this time, we have a state, a national home, a resilient global Jewish people, and many ways to strengthen them.
We are not on the eve of the destruction.
Observed with fasting and prayers, the 17th of Tammuz serves as a solemn reminder of the vulnerability and resilience of the Jewish people. While it is important to honor and remember past tragedies, it is also vital to take steps toward strengthening and restoring ourselves from the trauma we carry. To maintain spiritual practices, while recognizing and celebrating what exists, cultivating a collective sense of historical consciousness and spiritual renewal.
As we honor the 17th of Tammuz and the beginning of the "Three Weeks", I invite you to shift focus from destruction to restoration. To transform this period from a time of solemn mourning to a time of hope and renewal, affirming that while our walls may have been breached, our home, spirit, and shared peoplehood remain unbroken. By choosing to listen to voices of healing and repair, we can strengthen our home and ensure our resilience for the future, honoring the remarkable achievements of the Jewish people in the State of Israel.
She concluded her message by sharing the lamentation at the top of this Rabbi's Corner written by Leora Eilon, a survivor from Kibbutz Kfar Aza and a leading member of the Sha'ar HaNegev (the Gaza Envelope) community. Leora’s son, Tal Eilon
z"l, was the commander of Kfar Aza’s emergency squad. On October 7th, he bravely defended his kibbutz, while Leora spent hours in the safe-room with her two granddaughters, anxiously waiting to be rescued. Tal fell in battle that day.
As we begin the countdown toward
Tisha B’Av, we pray that the hostages are released, the war ends soon, that peace will reign in the Middle East and: “for borders of tranquility, for becoming good neighbors, for leaders with humility. That we will respect each other, brothers and sisters. When you will sprout again, O land, grain and wheat.”
