Chief Rabbi: ‘Israel hasn’t learnt the lessons of horrific tragedy of Tisha B’Av’

The Chief Rabbi has warned Israel hasn’t learnt the lessons of the “horrific national tragedy” that befell Jews 2,000 years ago. 

“Together with many others, I am finding this Tisha B’Av to be exceptionally painful. After close to two millennia since the loss of our Temple in Jerusalem, we have still not learnt the lessons of that horrific national tragedy,” Ephraim Mirvis said.

Tisha B’Av began on Wednesday night and continues until Thursday night, marking the saddest day of the year for Jews due to the internal rift that brought about disasters for Jews in the the Holy Land in the first century B.E., including the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans.

Mirvis pointed to the deep divisions in Israel over the country’s democratic character which have threatened with throwing the country into a civil war.

“Over the course of 75 simply miraculous years of accomplishment, the State of Israel has survived against unrelenting enemies and insurmountable odds, becoming a global beacon of Torah study, innovation, culture and democracy,” Mirvis said.

“Yet the deep polarisation and political animosity on display today, leaves many of the most passionate supporters of Medinat Yisrael feeling the great pain of unprecedented division,” he added.

Mirvis did, however, call for optimism, despite the sad atmosphere of Tisha B’Av. “Although Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning, it is nevertheless described as a ‘mo’ed’ – a ‘festival’ (Eicha1:15). This is because we resolve to look forward to a time when it will indeed be a day of great celebration,” Mirvis said.

“So too, even in these most challenging of days, let us resolve to actively work towards a strengthening of all that we value in our cherished Jewish State, and a time when unity and respectful disagreement will reign,” he added.