“Shall I weep and practice abstinence in the fifth month, as I have been doing all these years?” - Zechariah 7:3
When I first visited Israel in my teens, I had the opportunity to participate in an archaeological dig. We sifted through the dirt of the tel, a mound composed of many layers piled up over time and generations of settlement. After quite some time digging and sorting, we discovered a pottery shard. As we held it up, I felt an elation that I can only describe as equivalent to striking gold in Colorado. I was fascinated by discovering how one layer of our people’s story was piled upon the next. This was not merely a mound of dirt; it was a mound of life and a window into the past.
I am reminded of that experience as we prepare for the Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av and the most solemn in the Jewish calendar, which begins tomorrow night. Why? Because Tisha B’Av is itself an excavation of our communal mourning. Piled on top of each other like sedimentary layers, are the historical tragedies of our people in every era: a decree against the generation of Israelites in the wilderness that they would not enter Eretz Yisrael, the destruction of the First and Second Temples, the capture of Beitar during the Bar Kokha revolt, and the plowing over of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans (Mishna Ta’anit 4:6). Many modern tragedies are also attributed to the 9th of Av, including the onset of the Crusades, the expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290 and Spain in 1492, the beginning of World War I, the Nazis approving Himmler’s Final Solution, the first deaths in Treblinka, the deadly bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, and more. Every year, when we revisit this day on the Jewish calendar, we also revisit the accumulated destruction of these many events together. As we read from the book of Lamentations, we acknowledge how our peoplehood is built on this collective narrative of suffering, yearning, and loss.
Yet at the same time, one of the things I appreciate the most about excavating the 25 hours of Tisha B’Av every year is that it doesn’t end in despair. Tisha B’Av has a positive trajectory from destruction towards renewal. While the Temple walls may have come crashing down and so many lives were lost over the years on this day, our people have remained. We are still here. And we can harness this truth in the name of hope and redemption, love and compassion for others. We are not a nation of victims; we are a nation of survivors and story tellers, sages and healers.
Over the centuries, rabbis have debated whether we should even still commemorate Tisha B’Av when so much time has passed since the core destructions it commemorates, and particularly in the modern age when one can seemingly overcome exile by visiting the El Al website and purchasing a trip to Israel. I would argue that Tisha B’Av still holds significance for us today to remember how causeless hatred can bring about destruction, to recall all that we have endured in a day of communal mourning that transcends individual grievances or divisions, and to appreciate how we have persisted. In a world where it can be easy to fixate perpetually on loss, Tisha B’Av offers us a fixed time to remember all that we can lose in a day and overcome in a lifetime.
May this year’s Tisha B’Av be, as Professor Jonathan Sarna described it, “an annual reminder of destruction and renewal, of persecutions and martyrdom, of the dangers of baseless hatred and senseless death, and of commitment to life.” May it be a day when we can, as spiritual archeologists, be united with the Jewish people of the past, present, and future.
Shabbat Shalom!
We will be gathering for learning, Ma’ariv services, and chanting from the book of Lamentations (Eicha) for Tisha B’Av on Saturday evening at 8:15 p.m. in the GYC and at 8:00 a.m. in the Chapel for minyan on Sunday.
Tisha B'Av Evening Services Saturday, August 2, 8:15 p.m. An evening of interactive learning, Maariv service, and Eicha reading in partnership with Base Denver community at the GYC.
Shabbat in the Park for Adults Friday, August 8, 5:30 p.m. HEA will provide the main meal & challah, but please sign up for side dishes/salads, or desserts. (For reference, Shabbat begins at 7:47 pm).
Tot Shabbat Saturday, August 9, 10:45 a.m. A spirited and fun playtime before our Tot Shabbat service for little ones and their adults.
Hike, Torah & Shmooze with Rabbi Shulman Sunday, August 10, 7:45 a.m. Join Rabbi Shulman on an easy hike for a discussion and a chance to get to know each other better. Location: Golden Gate State Park.
Hochmat Nashim: Women’s Torah Study Group Sunday, August 10, 6:30 p.m. Join a group of vibrant Jewish women, led by Rabbi Shulman and Gitit Kaufman, for a meaningful evening of engagement with Torah and one another. We will be holding this class at our local new Mikvah as we explore the connection between women, water, and Torah!
Shalom Chaverim’s Game Day Thursday, August 14, 1:00 p.m. There will be snacks for everyone (all ladies and gentlemen are invited) and prizes for the big winners. Join with old and new Chaverim; expect plenty of ruach, bring your favorite games! The cost per person is $5 in advance, which covers drinks and snacks.
Annual Summer BBQ Picnic Sunday, August 17, 12:00 p.m. Come celebrate a fabulous Summer and a great year ahead at HEA’s annual BBQ (vegetarian options are available as well). Welcome new members and enjoy the company of old friends. Savor the flavors and aromas of great food grilled under the summer sun. Activities for kids and adults as well, with inflatable, kiddie pools, foam machine, and time to schmooze and mingle. Free to HEA members; $25 per family for non-members.
