New meaning to Tisha B’Av

As the sun set on Tisha B’Av, there was a silent sigh of relief around the Jewish world, not least of all in Israel. Somehow, getting past this day, historically known for destruction in the Jewish calendar, is reassuring in a post 7 October world. We’re aware that there’s still a massive threat from Iran and its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, and it may well be carried out before the weekend. But we have passed Tisha B’Av.

Tisha B’Av resonated with me this year like never before. I have always found it difficult to yearn for a destroyed Temple or two because, in truth, I find it hard to mourn something that was lost more than 2 000 years ago. Having said that, I do appreciate the huge significance of their destruction for the Jewish people.

But this year, for me, Tisha B’Av was about 7 October and the devastation it signified for Israel, the Israeli people, and the Jewish world. It was a reminder just how fragile our sense of security is and the extent of the hatred towards us some people feel.

For me, Tisha B’Av was a day on which we once again, as we have been doing for 314 days, felt the pain of what our enemies did to us and its reverberations in the Jewish world.

On Black Saturday, we were thrust into a time warp where suddenly, those of us who thought antisemitism was in the past were brought back to reality. We learnt just how deep the hatred towards Jews really is.

This is something to mourn on Tisha B’Av. I made time to watch the Aish.com Tisha B’Av video, which I was grateful for. It reminded me of the massive loss, heartbreak, and trauma that was caused when Hamas terrorists and Gazan citizens broke through the border into Israel. There, in a killing frenzy, they raped, murdered, burned alive, beheaded, you name it, they did anything that was depraved, to Jewish men, women, and children. What’s more, they did it with glee and laughter. Such hatred is beyond anything I can comprehend.

However, that video reminded me – and it’s a lesson to all of us – that out of the hatred, pain, and brokenness come heroes, kindness, and rebirth. From the darkness, we find light. It may take time, but that positivity and depth of strength is in our genes.

It’s profound to learn that a woman whose son was kidnapped and held hostage, and after escaping, was then killed by friendly fire, can forgive and care for the Israeli soldiers at fault. Her son was the love of her life, and losing him forever altered her existence, but she holds no animosity towards the Israeli soldiers in Gaza. She feels for them, and wants to help them.

Then there’s the jeweller whose son was killed at the Nova festival. He dreamed of his son getting married and that will never be. So, instead, he’s giving away engagement rings to soldiers who are coming home between fighting to get engaged to their sweethearts. It started off as just one, but now numbers more than 100. The first person he gave a ring to didn’t make it to his chuppah. He died in the war before his wedding day. Although this jeweller lost his son, he dreams of building the nation of Israel and families. This is his way of contributing towards that dream.

We learn of a former high-ranking soldier whose son alerted him to what was happening down south because he was stuck there on a kibbutz with his family. So, this grandfather and grandmother got in their car and drove down south to save their son and his family. But en route, there were many others in deep distress needing help. So, the former soldier did what needed to be done to save them first, even if it meant getting the wounded to hospital. Only once they had saved many lives did they get to their son and his family and save them.

I’m certain that the heroism on 7 October and since then knows no bounds. It’s about the values that most of us grow up with, especially in Israel, namely that every life counts. And we cannot leave behind someone whom we may be able to help.

The stories of soldiers, civilians, security guards, women, and men who put their lives on the line to save others on 7 October and since then abound. So few of them really get shared, but they are out there.

I have no doubt that there are bad eggs among us and among Israel Defense Forces soldiers, that’s the law of averages. However, as Jews, we grow up valuing life and humanity. We grow up believing that if you save one life, you save the world. Not that I think we all dream of becoming heroes, but I believe that instinct to do good and help others is intrinsic in most of us.

I do recognise the massive damage this war is doing both to Gazans and Israelis. Israel hasn’t stopped suffering, and the country is traumatised. The past 10 months have taken us so far from reaching any kind of peace agreement any time soon. There’s so much hatred, fear, and distrust, it’s almost insurmountable. All we can wish for right now is an end to the war so people can live without the constant trauma, fear, and anxiety.

I recognise however that just as people can see the good through their pain, nothing is impossible. I believe in miracles, especially those created by man.

And much like Tisha B’Av is about mourning terrible losses, it’s about rebuilding and rejuvenation. It’s about miracles and the deep strength of our people. Am Yisrael chai!

Shabbat shalom!

Peta Krost

Editor