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As some of you know, last month I took my almost five-year-old, Rafael, to Israel for two weeks. Our time there was magical as we crisscrossed the country seeing friends and visiting some old stomping grounds. These are strange and uncharted times for Israel now, and we saw evidence of that everywhere. We took part in some of the weekly protests that have rocked the country for many months now, joining tens of thousands of other Israeli citizens protesting in favor of Israeli democracy. (click here for a recap of some of the head-spinning, roller coaster of events)

During one of our many car rides, while I was driving and Rafi was sleeping in the back seat, I contemplated taking a picture of a protest banner hanging from one of the overpasses. Unlike many of the other slogans or messaging, it was impossible to pinpoint which side of the debate the author would put herself. Were they passionately in favor of the judicial overhaul or were they vehemently against it? The words gave no indication. 

Two black Hebrew words were emblazoned on white canvas paper - Achim Anachnu/We are brothers and sisters! They are words that harken back to one of Israel’s most beloved and unifying Prime Ministers, Menachem Begin, words that seem so foreign to today’s political discourse. 

On this day of Tisha B’Av, history is screaming at us to remember the mistakes of our past and the consequences of those mistakes. This day, considered the saddest on the Jewish calendar, marks the many destructions that have befallen our People, specifically the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem many years ago. 

Our sages teach that the Romans may have lit the match that torched the building two thousand years ago, but it was the Jewish People themselves who paved that path with fuel. Through in-fighting and seething resentments, we embodied what is called Sinat Chinam/Baseless Hatred. 

Two words that represent the complete opposite of the two words hanging from that overpass above. Two words that blind us from seeing the humanity of the other person, two words that condemn us to a path of mutual destruction. 

History has taught the Jewish People that when it comes to matters of profound internal division, there is one truth: If either side wins outright, then we all lose. This is as true during this current period of deep trauma in Israel as it was in other points of Jewish history. If either side wins outright, then we all lose. 

We pray for a path of compromise, a path that would take us back from the abyss. God forbid that Israel and the Jewish People choose the path of Tisha B’Av again.

Please join us tomorrow night during Shabbat Services as we continue this discussion. No matter where you stand on this topic or any other one, we can all find comfort joining together in prayer and reflection. 

On this Shabbat of Comfort, we say the words Sha’alu Shalom Yerushalayim/We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the whole House of Israel. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Natan Trief
Director of Adult Learning  
PNK Learning Center Librarian
Temple Sinai Atlanta