Q&A: The Philosophy of Tisha B'Av
The Philosophy of Tisha B'Av
Question
1. What do fasting and mourning, or all the other rituals, actually help?
After all, it already happened—and it can't be changed. So what good does it do?
2. If I want to bring redemption, mourning and fasting won't help me. Rather, I need to get up and act; it depends on me and not on something else. So what does it help?
3. The fasting and mourning of Tisha B'Av in exile, accompanied by the conception and consciousness that events are determined from Above because of our sins and the sins of our forefathers, caused exilic passivity throughout the entire exile. Because if that is what caused the exile, then that is what will cause the redemption. The discussion shifts from acting to bring redemption to passive, dependent belief in redemption. Only after shaking off this passivity through Zionism was the State established. So it doesn't just fail to help—it also caused damage… didn't it?
4. Is there any point in changing the wording in the prayer about the city of Jerusalem, "the lowly, mournful, and desolate"?
Answer
You assume that there is no value in mourning the past, only in actions. Even if we accept your assumption that action is required (and as is well known, not everyone accepts that. There is a famous dispute between Rashi and the Aruch LaNer in Sukkah over whether the Temple will descend already built from Heaven), that still does not make mourning unnecessary. Mourning is what brings action. Beyond that, mourning internalizes the lack, and that too has value.
There is reason to change it, and at present a version by Beit Hillel and a version by Rabbi Rabinovitch are being circulated.
Thank you very much for the answer. It helped a lot.