A Good Destruction

Rabbi’s opening post

A Good Destruction

Sent on 3/8/2006

Now that it is already behind us, we can discuss this ‘greeting.’

This ancient Jewish blessing has accompanied me since childhood, and I assume it is familiar to many.

It evokes several conflicting feelings: there is apparently a certain disrespect toward mourning here (long-standing mourning, in the terminology of tractate Yevamot). There is also a kind of technocratic formalism that relates to the Destruction and the mourning over it as a formal act without emotional dimensions. One can do everything according to Jewish law and still feel something festive (‘He proclaimed an appointed time against me to crush my young men’ [Lamentations 1:15]).

On the other hand, there is something very Jewish here. Perhaps it is a way of saying that you do not threaten me with catastrophes. We have had our fill of quite a few of those, and we are not especially moved. Perhaps it is an expression of resilience.

Admittedly, it is difficult to speak of resilience, because in fact this usually stems from the fact that we do not really feel the absence of the Temple.

And yet, there is also here something like the feeling of a person who is at home, both in sorrow and in joy. He is not afraid to express emotions, even if they are not entirely in place. And perhaps: ‘Fortunate are you, Israel… before whom are you destined to give an account… and who purifies you.’

I also sense here a tone of laughter and self-mockery (a very Jewish phenomenon, of course). A mockery of ourselves for meticulously observing our many days of mourning and not letting go of them. Self-mockery does not contradict identification. We may permit ourselves what others may not.

I would be glad to hear additional playful interpretations (not necessarily in the sense of jokes) of this saying, since it is very dear to me.

I would also be glad if this did not remain at the level of slogans, such as that the Ninth of Av is destined to become a day of joy, or that it is called a ‘festival’ (‘He proclaimed an appointed time against me’ [Lamentations 1:15]), etc. None of this is what underlies the natural feeling evoked by this saying.

And let these words serve as an opening to the seven weeks of consolation.

Source (forum “Stop Here, We Think”): http://www.bhol.co.il/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=2003243