Dear TEE community,

Tisha b’Av, the fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples which occurs next Tuesday, is a strange observance for Reform Jews. One of the movement’s foundational documents, the Pittsburgh Platform of 1885, proclaimed no desire for “a return to…sacrificial worship under the sons of Aaron.” The early Reformers also deleted any reference to the Temple or a desire for its rebuilding from the liturgy. I once had a rabbinic teacher who told me he thought Tisha b’Av should actually be a holiday because it rid Judaism of priests and offerings. 

So why would contemporary Reform Jews observe Tisha b’Av? I think the central reason is our own proximity to the devastation of a previous Jewish culture. Understanding that the early rabbis stood in a similar relationship to the destruction of the Second Temple, as we do to the Holocaust, gives me a sense of empathy for their overwhelming feelings of loss. While I certainly have no interest in a return to priestly traditions, I can understand the need to acknowledge the pain of being so close to a lost Jewish world. 

In his book, This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared, Rabbi Alan Lew gives another reason for reflection on Tisha b’Av. He connects the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in the months prior to the High Holy Days with the breaking down of our inward defenses and denial, necessary for the spiritual growth underlying the holidays. He sees the breaking down of the Temple walls as a metaphor for what needs to be broken down within ourselves for the renewal of teshuvah, the return to our authentic selves.

During our shabbat services this week, we will discuss this and other perspectives on what Tisha b’Av might mean for contemporary Jews.

On a very different note, this weekend will also be our congregational picnic. Our community has grown in the past year and this is a wonderful opportunity for newer and longer term members to get to know each other better. It is also a chance to introduce our congregation to anyone you think might be interested. Most importantly, it offers us “hanging out” time to relax and enjoy one another’s company. I look forward to seeing you there!

Rabbi Drorah Setel