Each year, Israel, Judaism and the Jewish people observe Tisha b'Av (National Day of Mourning). It is taught that both the Temples were destroyed on Tisha b'Av.. it is a dark day for the Jewish people.
The Rabbis and Sages teach that the destruction of the Temples was caused by "Sinat Chinam", which means "needless and unwarranted hatred", which brings us to today in America.
As Americans
discuss, talk, tweet and speculate over the latest rash of mass
shootings, in which we understand that innocent people were killed and
wounded, the emphasis seems to be on who to blame-which at best-will
seek out the effect but not discover the cause.
The cause is hatred-Sinat Chinam-needless and unwarranted hatred. This hatred-hatred of other peoples views, hatred of people that are different than us in any discernible way, hatred of anyone we can attach a name or label to that justifies our loathing... this is us.
Hatred in America-has free reign-without the attempt of social etiquette, there are no demands for respectful dialogue. We can no longer call ourselves a "free society" when opinions and thoughts of differing sides result in total rejection, excommunication and hateful words in response.
America needs a National Day of Mourning-to set aside a time to mourn what was and now is no more-to examine ourselves and see if in some way-we are promoting the kind of hatred that allows a sick person to use our words-to justify their actions.
America needs to consider a National Day of Mourning where we look into our own souls-and the very soul of our nation-to see if we are agents of civility, graciousness, love of each other...
America needs a National Day of Mourning to remember that we all can be the reason we see less acts of violence-less mass shootings-less needless deaths-by holding back the spewing of hatred that we allow ourselves to do-
Think of these things..
(Special thanks to Rabbi Hilbrant and Rabbi Blech for contributions to this article)
The cause is hatred-Sinat Chinam-needless and unwarranted hatred. This hatred-hatred of other peoples views, hatred of people that are different than us in any discernible way, hatred of anyone we can attach a name or label to that justifies our loathing... this is us.
Hatred in America-has free reign-without the attempt of social etiquette, there are no demands for respectful dialogue. We can no longer call ourselves a "free society" when opinions and thoughts of differing sides result in total rejection, excommunication and hateful words in response.
America needs a National Day of Mourning-to set aside a time to mourn what was and now is no more-to examine ourselves and see if in some way-we are promoting the kind of hatred that allows a sick person to use our words-to justify their actions.
America needs to consider a National Day of Mourning where we look into our own souls-and the very soul of our nation-to see if we are agents of civility, graciousness, love of each other...
America needs a National Day of Mourning to remember that we all can be the reason we see less acts of violence-less mass shootings-less needless deaths-by holding back the spewing of hatred that we allow ourselves to do-
Think of these things..
(Special thanks to Rabbi Hilbrant and Rabbi Blech for contributions to this article)
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