Today, few people outside of the devout, most haredim and some "serious" orthodox Jews, observe them. I wonder if others actually are aware of the date.
The four Jerusalem fasts are more than recounting a series of historical events, imbued by the Rabbis, and halakha, with religious meaning. They also (can) speak to the contemporary meaning of Jewish life. Unfortunately, the religious meaning and requirements drown out the national and existential meaning of the cycle.
- The Fast of Gedalia addresses political murder/assassination of a Jewish leader seen as a puppet for outside (not-"Jewish") forces. It addresses zealotry and how it can set the stage for a downward spiral towards loss of sovereignty. The Zionist movement/State of Israel has experienced this with the assassinations of Hayim Arlosoroff [1932] and Yitzhak Rabin [1994] as well as other murders.
- Asara b'Tevet is also used to commemorate the yahrzeits of people who's actual date of death is unknown during the Shoah. It can also be used to discuss issues surrounding warfare like laying a siege.
- The 17th of Tammuz commemorates the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem and the onset of "The Three Weeks" leading up to the actual destruction of the Temple on Tisha B'Av. Issues like how to prevent loss of sovereignty and issues surrounding sadness (some people start to change their behaviors -- stopping to swim/bathe, eating meat ... now).
- Tisha B'Av commemorates the destruction of the Temples and the exile into the diaspora of the remaining Jews. It spelled the end of any semblance of self-rule, even if as a puppet of a more powerful foreign power.
The Temple was more than a religious symbol -- the place to bring sacrifices and pray to god. It was the central institution of Jewish life, the seat of the high court (Sanhedrin), the repository (especially for the First Temple) of the "Tablets" (Ten Commandments) -- in a word the central meeting place for the Jewish people. With its destruction, Judaism underwent a cataclysmic and "paradigm shift".
With the destruction of the 1st Temple, the Hebrew Bible (Tanach) was codified. In wake of destruction of the 2nd Temple (70 CE) was the onset of the Rabbinic Period and the redaction of the "Oral Law"; the Mishna around 200 CE and the Gemara in 400 CE (Palestinian/Yerushalmi) and 500 CE (Babylonian/Bavli).
The loss of the Temple and living in exile also meant finding new ways to express a Jewish identity. Despite the creation of the State of Israel 61 years ago, the struggle has continued unabated. Yet, little attention seems to be paid to this period outside of academic world and the educated religious world.
I'm not suggesting that everyone be expected to fast on these days. Instead, I believe they need to become part of the public calendar so they can be commemorated (instead of ignored). They are valuable 'teaching moments' and an opportunity for deepening people's connection to Jewish history and the Jewish people.
What I have been noticing as the current trends for promoting Jewish identity are:
- promoting Israel as a place to visit or spend time either as a free trip like Birthright/Taglit", or for a semester/year with MASA;
- social action projects through programs like Jewish Social Action Month or JGooders;
- preventing (or at least trying) intermarriages.
--more later--
