The first of these occurred in the desert, in the second year after the children of Israel were liberated from Egypt. They had reached Kadesh Barnea almost on the border of the Promised Land, and were ready to start on the last leg of their journey, when they decided to send out "spies" to spy out the land for them. After forty days, the spies returned from their errand with an evil report, completely crushing the children of Israel with fear. In their faithlessness, the children of Israel shed bitter tears that night (the night of Tisha bAv), having lost all faith in G‑d. G‑ds anger was roused and He decreed that that night would be marked as a night of true grief in generations to come. G‑d further decreed that the faithless generation who had witnessed G‑ds wonders and miracles, yet lost their faith so shamelessly, would not live to see the Promised Land, and only their children would enter and inherit it. For the next 38 years, therefore, the night of Tisha bAv was marred by a heavy toll in dead, and the stillness of the desert air was rent by the cries of the bereaved. By the end of the forty years wandering through the desert, none was left of that generation (with the exception of the tribe of Levi) save Joshua and Caleb, the only two faithful members of the "spies" who had been loyal to G‑d.
In the year 2488 the children of Israel entered the Promised Land and settled down to a life of an independent nation on their own soil. Four and a half centuries later (in the year 2928) King Solomon erected the beautiful Beth Hamikdosh in Jerusalem, and for 410 years it stood in all its glory. But when the Jews had turned away from the path of the Torah, they forfeited their land. The Beth Hamikdosh was destroyed by Nebuzaradan, captain of the hosts of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. This occurred on the fateful day of Tisha bAv (in the year 3338).
After 70 years of exile in Babylon, the Jews were permitted to return to their land. They rebuilt their Beth Hamikdosh (3408) and organized their national life. But once again they strayed from the G‑d-given path and came to grief. This time the Romans under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Beth Hamikdosh (3828), after it had existed for 420 years, ten years more than the first. Again this calamity occurred on the fateful day of Tisha bAv.
About fifty years later the Jews made a desperate attempt to shake off the cruel Roman oppression. The revolt was led by Bar-Cochba, who was successfully entrenched in the stronghold of Bethar. Unfortunately, the revolt failed and was crushed by Emperor Hadrian of the Romans. The city of Bethar was captured and destroyed (3880) amid a terrible blood bath. This, too, occurred on Tisha bAv.
Finally, as forewarned by our prophets, the enemy caused a plow to be drawn over the site where Jerusalem and the Beth Hamikdosh once stood, which signaled the complete defeat of our people. Like the previous four catastrophies, this one also took place on the same unhappy day of Tisha bAv.
We commemorate these five calamities by fasting on Tisha bAv from sundown of the eighth day to nightfall of the ninth.
We Jews do not want to conceal our defeat and humiliation, because we want to learn our lesson from defeats as well as from triumphs. We realize that these calamities befell us because we had forsaken G‑d and the commandments of the Torah. We realize that only by acknowledging our sins and trying to make amends will we merit G‑ds mercies and be reinstated into his favor. Like a merciful father who had banished his wayward son in disgrace, but had received him back with increased affection and love, after his son had bravely borne his punishment and turned over a new leaf, so will G‑d receive us back with love and affection far greater than ever before, and never the twain shall part.
Published and Copyright
Merkos L'inyonei Chinuch
770 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11213
Start a Discussion