Below is a short video about Tisha B’Av, the Ninth Day of Av, which we are commemorating today.  (Note: if you choose to watch this today, you’ll need to mute the music – unmute  when the man is speaking and you won’t miss anything.)

This is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, a time when the most significant losses have occurred for the Jewish people on a communal level, and for many people, on a personal level as well.   This day became divinely designated as such many centuries ago, when the Jewish people in biblical times were given the land of Israel and cried needlessly out of their fear rather than embrace the G-d given gift.

In this video, it’s suggested that one rectification for the sin of the Jews in the desert is to joyfully embrace the mitzva (commandment) of living in Israel today.  As we are in our last few days before making the big move to Israel, it’s a message that our family personally found encouraging and affirming.  For those not moving, I think there’s still a positive message to get.   Even if we can’t physically live in Israel, our hearts should be there, our speech about Israel should be positive, and our thoughts about Israel should be positive.

After all, this was the gift given to the Jewish people by G-d – we need to appreciate it as such!

Avivah