Today is the 17th of Tammuz, a fast day that marks the breach of Jerusalem's city walls and the discontinuation of the daily sacrifices in the First Temple. It begins a three week long period of mourning that culminates on the 9th of Av, the anniversary of the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem.

This afternoon, in Jerusalem's Safra Square, there is a program of study sessoins dedicated to Judaism and social justice, sponsored by Ma'agalei Tzedek (Circles of Righteousness), an organizations that acts to promote social justice (fair treatment towards employees, rights for the handicapped, helping people to leave the cycle of poverty, etc.).

What's the connection? The Biblical prophets often criticized the nation for neglecting the poor and vulnerable, and reminded us that holiness and immorality cannot co-exist. The destruction of both Temples was the result of a moral and religious decline in the Jewish people. As long as righteousness does not prevail in our society, ther is no hope of rebuilding our Holy Temple.

Here's a link to the English magazine of Ma'agalei Tzedek: www.edah.org/mtzenglish.pdf

Jul 22, 2011 -- 2:57AM, NahumS wrote:

I'm always excited when an archeological find sheds light on our glorious past:

BS"D

I don't know if I'd call our past "glorious" as it has things to be proud of and things to be ashamed of in equal measure IMHO.  But I am with you in your excitement.  If that bell somehow does turn out to be from a priestly garment I will be happy to know it as well.

Regarding the camp that local kids organized for handicapped children - here's a link to youtube to the clip that they made. There are scenes from Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo and the Kotel.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxiZTlV3URE&feat...

Tish'a B'Av is over - and the mountains of laundry have shrunken.

The custom is to refrain from doing laundry and wearing newly laundered clothes until the tenth of Av at midday. At 12:45 my wife asked my son "What time is it?" His answer: "Laundry time ". And it was.

We kept busy on Tish'a B'Av. At night we went to hear Eicha - the book of Lamentations read. In the morning I went to shul for morning services, and afterwards remained for the traditional reading of kinnot - liturgical poems on the destruction and subsequent tragedies in Jewish history. Personally, I enjoy the poetry. A few explanations were interspersed, and that made it more interesting. Last year I bought a commentary  on the Kinnot by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (Koren publishers) that enriched my whole understanding of Tish'a B'av. Afterwards there were a few lectures, and later, a holocaust movie. I had my own reading matter (archeology of Jerusalem and holocaust memoirs) that filled up the time as well.

I attended a talk that dealt with an interesting  question. We know that idol worship is by far a more serious crime than causeless hatred - yet the First Temple (that was destroyed because of idol worship, murder and sexual immorality ) was rebuilt after 70 years, while the second temple, destroyed because of causeless hatred, remains destroyed to this day.

Here are a few of the answers from the sources. The First Temple was a resting place for the Divine presence. Idol worship rendered that meaningless. The second Temple was not graced with the manifestations of the Divine presence - but it was the very center of national life in Judea. Without a cohesive, functioning society, it became an empty shell and could not survive.

Another answer: Idol worship is an individual sin, as were murder and sexual immorality. The individual is punished for individual sins - but the destruction of the Temple was a collective punishment, for a collective sin.

Another analysis of the period describes the Second Temple period as one of intense religiousity - but everyone suspected that the other was a secret heretic, schismatic, etc. G-d has no need for such "tzadikim" and their Temple.

Another expalnation related to the effects of senseless hatred and, while other sins may be more serious, the results of causeless hatred are more bitter than any other sin, since it undermines society's basic fabric.

The general message was that mutual responsibility, committment to others even if we have severe disagreements with them - are essential if we want to maintain a Jewish society.

This is against the background of widespread protests in Israel for social justice and mutual responsibility.

Yesterday, I led a tour of the Temple Mount "on the seam between mourning and consolation." We focussed on themes that touched on both topics, relating to the Temple, linking Tish'a B'Av and Shabbat Nahamu, the Sabbath of Consolation that follows it.

Today is the 15th of Av - a  minor holiday. Even in diaspora communities it is marked with refraining from reciting Tahanun (a prayer of supplication), ommitted on Purim, Hannukah, Lag B'omer, Rosh Hodesh and on other holidays.

The Talmud mentions several reasons for the celebration, which was marked in Temple times by the young maidens dressed in white, going out to the vineyards to dance. Young men would come to watch, and choose a wife.

Beautiful girls would say: Choose a wife for her beauty, for a wife is only for beauty.

Girls from fine families would say: Choose a wife for family, for that is the purpose of a wife.

What would the plain ones say? Choose a wife for the sake of heaven .... but cover her with gold jewelry.

The Talmud goes on to say that all Jewish girls are lovely, only poverty makes them ugly.

Here is some more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_B\'Av

Evidently, in First Temple times , this was a very significant holiday. Some connect it with the tabernacle in Shilo that preceded the First Temple.