What We Can Learn from the Origin Story of Tisha B'Av About Relating to the Aggrieved Today
This Sunday, August 14, Jews will mark the fast of the Ninth of Av, an annual day of mourning commemorating the anniversary of the destruction of both the First and Second Jewish Temples in Jerusalem. It’s the darkest date in Jewish history.
According to tradition, the 12 spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan (Numbers 13) returned from their mission on Tisha B’Av. Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, brought a positive report, while the others relayed false tidings that the land would be “impossible” to conquer. According to the biblical account, the Jews chose to accept the slanderous report over the favorable one. They wept and despaired of ever entering the “Promised Land.”