Thinking Torah Blog

We find ourselves in an interesting and often overlooked period in the Jewish calendar. Beginning last Tuesday, July 23rd, we entered a time known as "The Three Weeks." This time refers to the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz, when the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem in 70 CE, and the 9th of Av, when the Temple was ultimately destroyed and the second exile began for the Jewish people. Traditionally, this period is considered the lowest point of the year, associated with multiple catastrophes throughout the ages.

There is a certain wisdom in our ancestors' decision to consolidate the remembrance of Jewish tragedies within this specific period rather than scattering these memorials throughout the year. With so many tragedies we could mourn every day, of course, Judaism implores us to celebrate life, and thus, we created a specific time for communal mourning. After the Holocaust, there was significant debate about establishing Yom HaShoah to specifically remember its horrors rather than incorporating this remembrance into the 9th of Av. However, the Holocaust was such a significant event that only the ultra-Orthodox resisted creating a new day of remembrance.

For nearly ten months, we have been grappling with the tragedy and grief stemming from October 7th and the subsequent war in Gaza. We grieve the loss of life, the hostages being held, and the dehumanizing effects of war. Wars make it difficult to recognize ourselves, and often, we are disheartened by what we see when we look deeply. Additionally, in the last 24 hours, we have been anticipating an attack from Iran and its proxies. By the time you read this email, the situation may have changed significantly.

More than at any other time in my life, I feel the profound honesty and importance of these three weeks leading up to the 9th of Av. I am sitting with the grief of a grueling war that has claimed so many lives and left both Israelis and Palestinians further traumatized. I am also experiencing anticipatory grief, waiting to hear if my friends and family in Israel will be safe, and bracing for how severe this next phase might be.

As we close the Book of Numbers this week, may we hold true to the words we utter at the end of each book of Torah: Chazak Chazak V’nitchazek. Be strong, be strong, and we shall be strengthened.

With strength and solidarity.