14 August 2005 (Sunday)
acheinu kol beit yisrael
Thanks to the RenReb, all I've been able to think about on Tisha B'Av so far is the imminent disengagement/withdrawl/evacuation/displacement/eviction from Gaza (and four settlements in the northern West Bank). Well, that, and the Holocaust. I've been forcing myself to read through Gilbert's Holocaust whenever my mind wanders. It's not the main point of the day, but I figure it's better than nothing.
Back on today's troubles, rather than those of sixty and seventy years ago...major credit to Rabbi G for not taking sides on the withdrawal from Gaza (and four settlements in the northern West Bank - really, I'm not going to let anyone forget that secular Jews are also being removed from their homes). It has been reported to me (because of course I was late to shul) that he does not feel that he, or any of us, know enough details about the entirety of the situation to come down firmly on one side or another. I'm glad at least some community leaders are taking a balanced, mature, reasoned approach to all of this.
In that vein, the Young Israel of Brookline is encouraging the community to gather for a recitation of tehillim (psalms) tomorrow evening at 7:00 (to be followed by davening and learning). The goal of our prayers is not to stop the disengagement, nor to promote it. We ask only that, whatever happens, the events of the coming days and weeks remain peaceful an that what emerges from this is a stronger, safer, and united Klal Yisrael.
May the remainder of our fast be meaningful, and next year may we spend this day in celebration.
I agree with Rabbi G's assessment ... but I think that it's always true. Only G-d fully knows the
situation and the impact. That said, I firmly
feel that withdrawal from Gaza and Shomron as it's currently being done is very damaging to the Jewish people and the world, both in the short term and in the long term. This tisha b'av I pray that either 1) my analysis is way off-base and this move helps the security of Israel and the world (I would be deliriously happy to be wrong in this case!), or else 2) G-d helps us to repeal disengagement. Certainly G-d knows the truth ... and I hope we get some help sorting it out down here.
I really like the idea of getting together as a community to say tehillim and learn together. IMHO, that type of non-partisan community action is wonderful.
BS"D
Thanks for the moderate, hopeful view, Shanna. May we see the end of this bloody situation before next Tisha B'Av.
Amen. I think this is definitely the only appropriate path to take at this point, at least for those of us not physically in the middle of it.
Check out the pictures here. There's at least one picture of a family who is clearly not religious. Yet the MSM in our country would have us believe that it's only religious zealotss. And Datya and Aryeh Yitzchaki, two of the most articulate spokespeople for Azza are not Dati either. (And let's not forget that many of those in Elei Sinai, for example, have made sacrifices for peace before. Zealot is probably not the right term for many of these people.)
Well-said. Thank you for this.
A recent article in the JPost, makes me conclude that Arye Yitzchaki is indeed a zealot. Though not a religious one.
