3 terrible weeks, 3 terrible things

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In the space of a few weeks, we commemorate our greatest moment — receiving the Torah on Har Sinai on the 6th of Sivan — and fast forward to our lowest point — the destruction of the Bait Hamikdash on Tisha (the Ninth day) B’Av.

Through the bumpy road of Jewish history and now on to the modern State of Israel, with the words of Shir Hamaalot — the return to Zion, returning like waves of water in the desert — ringing in our ears--rebuilding Torah institutions, rejuvenating our language. The Jews have returned to the land of Israel, forged a state, yearning through the centuries, the millennia, praying for our return to our land, clinging to G-d, the Torah, and remembering and mourning for what we lost.

The calendar is now in the period of bain hametzarim — between the 17th of Tammuz (the day when Moses smashed the tablets when he saw the sin of the Golden Calf, daily sacrifice in the First Temple ceased, and the walls around Jerusalem were breached in both destructions) and Tisha B’Av (when the Jews rejected the land of Israel and cried based on the report of the Spies; both Temples were destroyed, and the Romans massacred the remnants of Bar Kochba’s rebellion at Betar). Many other devastating events in Jewish history happened on the Ninth of Av and within this timeframe — as a result, both days and the entire period are considered dangerous for Jews.

Three important more recent anniversaries should be remembered.

On June 12, 1982, the 21st of Sivan 5742, there was a fierce battle, the battle of Sultan Yacoub, between Syria and Israel during the 1982 Lebanon War. Two Israeli battalions were cut off and surrounded. The Israeli Army lost eight tanks and 30 soldiers were killed. Three IDF soldiers remain missing and unaccounted for to this day: Zachary Baumel, Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz. Although there have been reports over these 31 years that they are alive, MK Danny Danon stated recently that the longer they are missing the less likely they are to be found. Some have hopes that with the upheaval in Syria, they might be found and brought home.

On Aug. 15, 2005, the 10th of Av 5765, Israel began the evacuation and expulsion of close to 10,000 Jews from Jewish towns in the Gaza Strip, destroying homes, schools, farms, industry, a way of life that had been built up over 30 years. Many of these Israelis are still not reestablished in homes or communities. Their life’s work was destroyed. A hole was torn in the soul of the nation, a further churban whose wound still weeps unhealed to this day.

One positive event that is remembered this time of year, although still with some sadness, hearkens to an earlier time.

On July 4, 1976, the 6th of Tammuz 5736, a special force of Israeli troops flew under cover of darkness to Entebbe, Uganda, to rescue 105 Jews who had been hijacked on June 27 and kidnapped by terrorists. Yoni Netanyahu, the current prime minister’s brother, died in the firefight that ensued there, as did two hostages, but most of the hostages, in an incredible operation under unimaginable circumstances, were brought back by plane to Israel. All the terrorists were killed, the Ugandan planes destroyed on the ground, and the operation was completed in only 58 minutes. A blow was struck against terrorism that, at the time, resonated worldwide.

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Rabbi Zev Friedman, rosh mesivta of Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence and dean of Midreshet Shalhevet High School for girls in North Woodmere, saw a common theme here.

That brave Israeli soldiers risk their lives to save other Jews — something that could not happen during the Shoah, he noted —was “unprecedented” and “speaks volumes about the responsibility to help other Jews … and our responsibility to see them [the MIAs] home returned to Israel.”

As for Gush Katif, he sees the importance of achdut (unity), where the rabbis, the military and the politicians must work together to do what is right. “United we will have a better chance of success with the aid of Hakodosh Baruch Hu … Divisiveness leads to destruction, to the galut we are currently in,” he said.

During these nine days leading up to Tisha B’Av next Tuesday, may we work to come together, set aside differences and see our commonalties and be witness to the complete geulah and binyan habayit (redemption and rebuilding of the holy Temple).