Approaching Tisha B'Av
28/07/2025 09:23:58 AM
When we think of cities destroyed in the Torah, Sodom and Gomorrah come to mind. The internal evil led to complete destruction. The cities never returned. Many of the post Torah books in Tanach focus on the ups and downs of the holy city of Jerusalem - before, during and following the first Temple period.
Leading up to Tisha B'Av, we read three Haftarot of rebuke, two from Jeremiah and one from Isaiah. Following Tisha B'Av, we will read seven Haftarot of comfort from a second or "Deutero"Isaiah. Historically, the Babylonians destroyed the first Temple, and the Romans destroyed the second Temple. Philosophically, the Sages who lived after the second Temple period taught, "Because of our own transgressions, we were exiled from our homeland." Strife from within and without led to two periods of destruction in our history.
In the aftermath of October 7 almost two years ago, we have much to refect upon this Tisha B'Av.