The Black Fast. It sounds ominously like the title of a scary horror film – and it may be exactly that.
Every year, for the last several decades, whenever we approach Tisha B’Av, there is a spirited debate over the necessity for this day of mourning for Jerusalem. True, the Temple was destroyed – twice, in fact; each time resulting in innumerable deaths and our exile from the Holy Land.
The loss of this center of spiritual life created a massive void that was only partially filled by the creation of “Mikdashe’i M’at,” miniature temples (synagogues) in every Jewish community, echoing the rituals of the holy Temple and thus keeping alive our hopes for a future rebuilding.
But the Jerusalem of today, it is argued, is hardly a “barren woman, scorned and desolate” and weeping in the ruins, as the special “Nachem” prayer of the Ninth of Av laments. Our capital city is now a stunning metropolis that blends beauty and form, displaying our ancient tradition alongside towering skyscrapers that spire and aspire to touch the heavens.
The city hums with endless energy, bringing together a mélange of virtually every culture and caste of humanity, Jewish and otherwise. And so the critics contend that serious hand-wringing over what once was, yet is no more, has now become obsolete, if not obnoxiously outrageous, even insulting to the City of Gold.
All Israel under attack
Perhaps this argument was indeed viable in years past, but not now. While Jerusalem is still a marvel to behold, it – along with all of Israel and the Jewish people in general – is under serious attack. Not a day goes by that we are not harassed, harangued, hounded, or held liable for every sin known to man.
There is a feeding frenzy – led, of course, by The New York Times and its ilk – “all the abuse that’s fit to print” – that fills the pages and airwaves of virtually every country, including those who are themselves knee-deep in actual malfeasance. It’s open season on Jews, Israeli or non.
The Mishna in tractate Sota (49a) seems frighteningly prophetic: “Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel says in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua: From the day the Temple was destroyed, there is no day that does not include some form of catastrophe.
“Says Rava: Each and every day is more accursed than the previous one; in the morning you will say, ‘Would that it were evening,’ and in the evening you will say, ‘Would that it were morning.’”
SHOCKINGLY, THE situation vis-à-vis Jews is, in some ways, even worse than during the Holocaust. Yes, I know that sounds outrageous, but it’s not. During the Holocaust, it was dangerous – and more often than not, fatal – to be caught in any place under the control of the Nazi regime and its allies. But at the same time, there were many other, safe locales around the world, out of harm’s way, where Jews could live normal, or semi-normal lives.
Today, there is not a single sanctuary where a Jew’s freedom is assured. Jews are targets for abuse and attack not only throughout Europe, but also in America, Australia, Canada, and beyond. Even far-flung islands like the Seychelles, Rhodes, and Syros have seen gangs of pro-Hamas terrorists threaten Jews for daring to visit.
What we are experiencing is the modern-day rise of our arch-foe, Amalek. Once, Amalek was an actual tribe that viciously attacked us, focusing on the weak and the vulnerable. We fought two wars against them, once at the beginning of Moses’ tenure, the other just prior to our entrance to the Land of Israel. Today, Amalek are not identifiable as a distinct people, but rather as a prototype.
Their goal, then as well as now, is to defame and delegitimize the Jewish people. They strive to define and depict us as anything but a holy nation. Instead, we are made out to be deceptive, vicious, ruthless racists who care only for ourselves, destroying everything in our path on our way to world domination.
These contemporary “Amalekites” use every device at their disposal to turn the general populaces against us; they are under no compulsion to tell the truth or seek reconciliation with us. World opinion, generated largely by the slanted world press, can be hopelessly gullible and is eagerly predisposed to side with the liars, and so fall victim to the mob mentality.
In journalistic jargon, “if it bleeds, it leads,” and tales of Israel’s alleged cruelty and criminal acts against humanity are avidly gobbled up by reporters seeking a salacious story. Our efforts at hasbara (public diplomacy) – and we do make a valiant effort – are up against a huge brick wall of prejudice. Truth becomes the primary victim.
We have only one choice: to rage against the lies and hate while conducting ourselves in the most just and proper fashion that the situation allows. The struggle may not be clean nor pretty – war seldom is – but the alternative, conceding to the enemy, is much, much worse.
The Torah warns that this battle against Amalek, and all it represents, is an unending, eternal one, from generation to generation. Certainly, our generation is experiencing this biblical challenge. We must ceaselessly fight the good fight until, as we are promised by God, the Black Fast will fade to white and our crises will be transformed into celebration. ■
The writer is the director of the Jewish Outreach Center of Ra’anana. rabbistewart@gmail.com