Therefore, on Tisha b Av we mourn for the fact that the Divine aspect of ourselves is still hidden from ourselves. Jerusalem is the point of holiness, the Divine presence that dwells within each and every one of us. The Zohar teaches us that the meaning of Jerusalem is the innermost aspect of our heart. However, when we look at this period of the year through the lens of the inner teachings of the Torah and the inner work we need to do on Tisha BaAv, the picture looks very different. On the other hand, if we apply the principle of Dayeinu, being thankful for every step to redemption, then our Tisha bAv mourning does seem hard to justify. If we consider only the physical, the external, then we can still say that the redemption isn’t complete because Jews still have difficulty ascending onto Temple Mount and praying there, and the Temple is still not rebuilt. Indeed could our behavior be considered as ingratitude? We seem to be acting as if we haven’t noticed the miraculous return of the Jews to Zion and the incredible rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Yet, this coming Sunday, the fast of Tisha b’av falls and I, with other orthodox and religious Jews will be sitting on the floor, mourning the destruction of the Temple -an event which took place on this day 2000 years ago, One cannot help asking, Doesn’t this seem like an anachronism? It seems as if I, together with other religious Jews are stuck in a time warp and we are still behaving as we did for centuries, mourning the destruction of Jerusalem.
#Divinity original sin 2 life essence full#
And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing Thus says the LORD of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women sit in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his walking stick in his hand for very age. Today Jerusalem is a city filled with life just as the prophet Zecharia prophesied 2000 years ago. I hope to travel on the buses and enjoy the new light rail. I am looking forward to seeing my sisters, my daughter-in law and my little grandchildren, who all live there. I live in tsfat but today I am traveling to Jerusalem.