Martin H. van den Bergh

Tisha B’Av is not only a time to commemorate the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem and other calamities that befell the Jewish people. It is also an opportunity for national reflection and for examining the failings that contributed to those catastrophes.

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At the beginning of Devarim, the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the Children of Israel of their shortcomings. According to Rashi, he does so by naming the places where they provoked God’s anger. Out of respect for Israel, Moses avoids describing the sins themselves and alludes to them only through the names of those places. While we should admonish those who have done wrong, we must also preserve their dignity and avoid belittling them. Judaism encourages us to acknowledge our wrongdoing, because admitting our faults is not weakness but strength, especially when we learn from our mistakes.

Tisha B’Av can therefore be seen as a national or communal act of remorse. It also begins our collective process of atonement and repair. The day is followed by seven weeks of comfort, culminating in the Ten Days of Repentance, which begin with Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur.

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Here in Israel, we are continuing to defend ourselves while also seeking to learn from the defence failures that led to the atrocities of October 7th. By doing so, we can become stronger and stand firm against the threats that still confront us. In this spirit, we pray that the dark days following October 7th will be transformed into days of joy, just as Tisha B’Av is considered a Moed—a day destined for joy—marking the rebuilding of the Temple and bringing true redemption.