The story is told of the great French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte. He once was traveling through a small town in Europe and heard the sound of weeping. He followed the sounds into a synagogue. There he saw an incredible sight. Men and women weeping. They were sitting on small stools holding candles while reading from books. The synagogue had an elaborate chandelier but only a few candles were lit.
Napoleon asked why the people were weeping and wanted to know what misfortune had occurred. He was informed that the Jewish people gather in their synagogues once a year on the ninth day of Av, marking the destruction of the Holy Temple, twice destroyed.
Napoleon inquired how long ago these events transpired. When he learned that the second Bait Hamikdash went up in flames nearly two millennia ago, Napoleon exclaimed, "A nation that cries and fasts for nearly 2,000 years for their land and Temple will surely see it rebuilt."
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Tisha B’av, the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av, occurs this year on Shabbat. Due to the observance of Shabbat, the fast is postponed until Saturday night/Sunday.
So, this year, on the saddest day of the year, Jews will be making Kiddush, enjoying delicious Challah and celebrating Shabbat.
How, you may wonder, can we celebrate a day like this?
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I was sitting this week with families that had lost a child, absolutely tragic circumstances. How can they move on? How can we comfort them?
Honestly, it’s not easy and words of comfort can never fill their void. We can only be there to support them and help them in their challenging journey.
One suggestion I did make to help them cope was to tell stories about their loved ones that had passed. By celebrating the lives of loved ones we can hopefully find the great meaning and purpose in their lives. By recognizing that they fulfilled a unique mission, hopefully the families can find some comfort. In their passing, the deepest messages of their lives come to light.
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The Talmud relates that Moshiach, the righteous redeemer who will usher in the era of world peace and holiness, was born on Tisha B’Av. It may sound ironic, but when probing deeper we can appreciate Moshiach’s birthday.
What’s highest falls lowest. Tisha B’Av is a very potent day. In its source in Heaven, it’s a magnificent day, a day of Moshiach, perfection and peace. But when that type of energy is degraded, it becomes the saddest, most desperate and tragic of days.
Being that G-d always prepares the remedy before the ailment, Moshaich was ‘born’ on the very day of destruction and mourning.
This year, we have the unique opportunity to examine, interact with, and even celebrate the deeper side of Tisha B’Av.
May we merit to celebrate Tisha B’Av in a revealed way with the rebuilding of the third Bait Hamikdash in our holy city of Jerusalem!