Jews are about to enter the three weeks of mourning. They begin on the 17th of Tammuz which is Tuesday of the coming week. These three weeks culminate on Tisha B’Av, the 9th of the month of Av. They are the saddest days in the Jewish year. On the 17th of Tammuz, the walls were breached in Jerusalem. By the 9th of Av, the First Temple and then centuries later the 2nd Temple was destroyed. The Jews were expelled from Spain (and Portugal and Italy) on the 9th of Av. The Warsaw ghetto fell on the 9th of Av. We are still mourning all of this.
I wrote to a friend who will be away for the next three weeks saying I can’t believe she will be gone while world events seem to be spiraling out of control. When I wrote the words “Three weeks” I saw the connection. I realized that traditionally the 17th of Tammuz is a fast day. I figured I would fast. In my circle it would be lonely. I would probably be the only one.
It turns out, I am wrong. Rabbi Arthur Waskow has already reclaimed this fast. He is calling it “Hunger Strike Against Violence.” https://theshalomcenter.org. He has suggested doing this in response to the crisis in Israel. He has suggested doing this to honor his good friend, Rabbi Zalman Shachter Shalomi, of blessed memory who died last week. I had the honor of studying with Shachter Shalomi. He was a man of deep spirituality, of vision, of insight and had a way of crossing borders and cultures that made everyone feel comfortable. He was, in essence, a man of peace.
Fasting on the 17th of Tammuz this year is something that both Jews and Muslims can agree on. Muslims are spending this month observing Ramadan. Since we are all looking for things to do during this time of crisis, fasting is one more option. It is a long standing tradition in Judaism. There is the Fast of the First Born, those people who are first born who are grateful to have survived the 10th plague. There is the fast of Esther, she herself fasted before she went to the king. There is the fast of Gedaliah, just the day after Rosh Hashanah.
Jews teach that the Second Temple was destroyed because of “sinat chinam”, baseless or senseless hatred. I talk about this almost every year. Now, more than ever (haven’t I said that before?), we need to reduce baseless hatred. We need to find safety, where children can go to sleep without worrying about bombs and rockets. We need to find a way to work for peace.
Sinat chinam needs to stop. I am reminded of the song, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” As we approach Shabbat, longing for Jerusalem, let us make that commitment. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. As we approach Shabbat, may our houses be filled with Shalom Bayit, peace of the home. May they be joyous, filled with laughter and music, love and food.
On Tuesday I will be fasting. And the money that I save on my food, will go to those organizations that are working for peace. Join me.