Dear JCOGS family,
Our older boys Adar and Yonah are at Jewish camp for 3 weeks, always a meaningful experience for young Jews looking to build connections to others, learn leadership skills, and just plain have fun! Earlier this week, I got an email from Adar, our oldest son. He learned that tomorrow night is the holiday of Tisha B’Av and he wanted to know how I was going to be observing the holiday. I thought you all would appreciate reading what I sent to him, so I share it with you all, too, below.
I look forward to a full weekend back in our community after some time off. First, the celebration of
Shabbat tonight, followed by the
B’nei Mitzvah of siblings Gavin and Lily Murphy tomorrow, and finally, tomorrow night,
Tisha B’Av.
Tihiyu bri’im, be well. Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David
Hi Adar,
So good to hear from you. I miss you!!
You asked about Tisha B'Av and how I will be observing it this year. So, on Saturday night, we will gather at JCOGS for a candle-light service, and it will include reading the ancient and sad book of Eicha, or Lamentations. Tisha B'Av is a sad holiday because it remembers some of the difficult things that have happened to Jews throughout history, like the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. So, I will sit on the ground, and I will fast (like we do on Yom Kippur) along with many Jews across the world. And I will grieve and be sad about these things that have happened.
But also, I think the coolest thing about this holiday is that the rabbis say that Mashiach, or the Messiah, is supposed to be born in the afternoon as Tisha B'Av is ending. Mashiach is an idea that we will be saved and there will be no more unnecessary suffering in the world. The way I understand this is that we can save ourselves, with G-d's help, from the terrible suffering we create. In other words, we have positive control over what's to come in the future. So I will also focus on what I can do and what we can do as a community to make the world better.
I've always thought that it's a bit funny that of all the Jewish holidays to happen during summer camp, that it should be this one. I mean, camp is supposed to be so much fun, right!? Why would you spend a day at camp being sad if you can help it? But I also know that as much fun as camp is, there are also times when it's okay to be sad or upset. Tisha B’Av is one of the Jewish ways we can do that. I hope it’s a meaningful holiday for you. And I hope that answers your question.
Love you very, very much,
Abba
