By Selwyn Isakow
SAN DIEGO — This week we mark Tisha B’Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. So many tragedies have happened to the Jewish people on this date – the 9th of Av, including the destruction of the First Temple of Jerusalem by the Greeks, and 656 years later the Romans destroyed the second Temple.
The Jewish attitude to the destruction of the Second Temple was both introspection and transformation. The community asked themselves, what in our behavior as a people contributed to our demise? The rabbis identified ruinous hatred among the Jewish community itself as the primary reason.
Judaism responded to the destruction of the Temple with a commitment to active transformation. With the Temple gone, the community placed the emphasis on mitzvot, good deeds, justice, and life-affirming rituals, to rebuild spiritual and physical bridges. The destruction hastened what Maimonides considered an “ascension” to a higher level of relationship with God. Ethical behavior and prayer became the way to express faith and establish a relationship with God, not blood sacrifices. Human intellect, said Maimonides, evolves and allows us to have a more “mature” relationship with the Creator.
And thus we have survived. The only ancient culture that managed to outlive the loss of the focal point of its faith.
We should look to our heritage and be inspired to transform ourselves as individuals during challenging times. We all experience setbacks, or worse. But we can transform tragedy into hope and action. We can become an engine of self-improvement. We can dream of a better future, even as we despair. As Jews we should at least try.
That is the mission behind the creation of the Kindness Initiative. The Kindness Initiative was established and is here to assist vulnerable Jewish households in San Diego County to navigate and access opportunities to address their emergency needs and transform their lives with dignity, confidentiality and compassion.
In this time of reflection, if you or someone you know could benefit from a friendly voice and a helping hand, call us at 858-216-6661 or visit www.kindnessSD.org for a safe, confidential discussion.
*
Philanthropist Selwyn Isakow is the founder of the Kindness Initiative as well as the Shabbat San Diego and Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego programs.