Για να το διαβάσετε στα Ελληνικά, κάντε κλικ εδώ
I've written this story before but I think this is so meaningful that I will share it again. Plus, let's check who even remembers it!
It was exactly during this period of the year, before Tisha Beav, 6 years ago and our son Levi was about 5.
I was telling him the story about the Temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed, about the fact that we mourn and fast* on Tisha Beav to remember it and to pray for its reconstruction.
Some time later, as we were strolling next to the Acropolis, I told him about how the Parthenon was the Temple of the Ancient Greeks, how it was partially destroyed in a war between the Ottomans and the Venetians... Levi then asked me very seriously: "So when do the Greeks fast?".
His question made me smile of course, but then it made me think. Indeed, for the Jewish people, the Temple of Jerusalem is not only an archaeological site, but something that concerns us so much that even 2000 years later, we still fast because of its destruction.
And it is because of this living memory, because of this concern and dedication, that G-d willing we will soon merit to be redeemed from the exile and welcome the Mashiach which will usher an era of peace and harmony for the entire world.
(*) This year, the fast of Tisha Beav starts on Saturday evening 10/11/19 at 20:25 and ends on Sunday evening 11/08/19 at 20:53
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mendel and Nehama Hendel