Tisha B’Av — To Those Who Died and Lived

Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of Av, begins at sundown Saturday.  It is a day of fasting and mourning, with work prohibited, commemorating the calamities that have afflicted the Jewish people:

Tisha B’Av primarily commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples, both of which were destroyed on the ninth of Av (the first by the Babylonians in 586 B. C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.). . . .

Hillel has published some study material for Tisha B’Av that notes that “other tragedies throughout history occurred to the Jews on Tisha B’Av:”

Some examples include the beginning of the First Crusade in 1095; the expulsion of Jews from Spain by King Ferdinand in 1492, and the beginning of WWI in 1914. Additionally, Tisha B’Av has been adopted as a national day of mourning for all tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people.

Thinking about the survival of the Jewish people amidst the recurring tragedies and triumphs that have characterized their history, I came across Irena Klepfisz’s poem, “Bashert” — a brief excerpt from which is set forth below.  It is not a Tisha B’Av poem, but perhaps it can be read as a tribute both to those who died and those who lived in the long history of calamities that this holiday remembers:

These words are dedicated to those who died . . .

because they took risks

because they were stubborn and refused to give up

because they asked for too much . . .

because someone did not follow through

because someone was overworked and forgot

because someone left everything to God

These words are dedicated to those who died

because death is a punishment

because death is a reward

because death is the final rest

because death is eternal rage

* * *

These words are dedicated to those who survived

because they refused to give up and defied statistics

because they had faith and trusted in God

because they expected the worst and were always prepared

because they were angry . . .

These words are dedicated to those who survived . . .

because life is an awakening and they were alert

because life is a flowering and they blossomed

because life is a struggle and they struggled

because life is a gift and they were free to accept it.