Can We Can Do Anything Extra To Protect Our Nation As Tisha B’Av Approaches?

Dear Jew in the City,

In light of the increasing danger and hatred of Jews around the world, the Three Weeks and Tisha B’Av seem more relevant than ever. Is there anything extra we can do this year for our hostages, soldiers and the safety of our nation?

Thank you,

Meira

Dear Meira,

Thanks for your question. While I agree with your general premise of doing more for Israel and the hostages, I disagree with tying it into the Three Weeks per se. I have two reasons for feeling this way. (Please keep in mind that these opinions are that just that: my opinions, based on my experiences. Others may feel differently.)

The first reason is based on something I learned a few decades ago. An organization was using Chanukah to promote going green, energy efficiency, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, etc. (The logic is that the oil lasted eight days rather than one. Get it?) This is a cause of which I approve; my house has solar and I strongly recommend it for anyone for whom it is an option. But when I asked the rabbinic authority of my organization about partnering in this endeavor, he wasn’t a fan. It’s certainly a worthy cause, he agreed, but that’s not what Chanukah’s about. Chanukah is about the military victory of the Chashmonaim (AKA the Maccabees) over those who would have us assimilate. It’s okay to partner in an energy-efficiency initiative, he said, but it’s not okay to obscure the message of Chanukah with an unrelated cause. Similarly, the Three Weeks is about mourning the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Temples. I don’t think we should distract from that with other messaging.

Now you might say that I’ve got it all wrong; the Three Weeks commemorates national tragedies and what happened in Israel on October 7 is indeed a national tragedy. That is true, but it brings us to my second reason: the Three Weeks specifically commemorates national tragedies that happened during this three-week period, of which, sadly, there are plenty. The attack and massacre occurred on Simchas Torah. (And while we might work in some acknowledgment of that fact, we certainly should not change the focus of Simchas Torah!)

As an aside, the Three Weeks doesn’t even lend itself to this kind of appropriation because we don’t really do anything for the Three Weeks. Rather, we don’t do things. It would be kind of weird to say, “I’m not cutting my hair for three weeks for Israel” or “I’m refraining from music for three weeks in the merit of the hostages.” Anything one might actively do likely wouldn’t be Three Weeks-specific.

We previously discussed what we can do for the hostages. Basically, unless some high-level diplomat is reading this, the best that most of us can do is daven (pray). But let’s discuss some details.

One of the brachos of Shemoneh Esrei is called Geulah (Redemption; yes, the brachos of Shemoneh Esrei have names!). The text is:

See our affliction, take up our cause, and redeem us speedily for the sake of Your Name because You are a mighty Redeemer. Blessed are You, Hashem, the One Who redeems Israel.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t say those words without thinking about the situation in Israel and, to a lesser extent, the rising antisemitism we’ve seen in the United States and elsewhere.

There’s another bracha called Birkas Haminim – the Blessing against Heretics. When I say the words V’lamalshinim al t’hi tikvah – “may slanderers have no hope” – I can’t help but think of the small percentage of Jews who have chosen to advocate for terrorists instead of the innocent victims. I try to judge them favorably, that they have been misled by a false narrative, but I certainly don’t wish them success!

So, working Israel into our tefillos is something that can be done organically, even before one starts to say Tehillim and other special prayers.

You know what else we can do? Take on a new mitzvah, or the improvement of an existing mitzvah, in the merit of Israel and/or the hostages. Light Shabbos candles. Make challah. Start wearing tzitzis. Put on tefillin. Stop talking in shul. Learn an extra hour of Torah a week. Bentch from a bentcher instead of by heart. Stop speaking lashon hara as best you can. The options are literally endless.

These ideas are not Three Weeks-specific, but the Three Weeks are a great time to redouble our efforts.

The Three Weeks are not about the war in Gaza or the hostages, and I pray that nothing happens this summer to add the current situation to the list of tragedies that the Three Weeks mourns. But we should have Israel and the hostages on our minds all the time, and that includes the Three Weeks. So, increase your prayers and take on new mitzvos, now, during the Three Weeks, and whenever else klal Yisroel is in need of our tefillos and merits.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Educational Correspondent
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