As we begin the last book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, Moses begins recounting the journeys of the Jewish people. In the first verse, he mentions specific locations along the way. Rashi notices it is at these places in which the Israelites rebelled against God.
We provoked God in the wilderness when we complained that it would have been better in Egypt.
Even at the Red Sea, they complained that perhaps it would have been better to die in Egypt.
Moses, as he enters the last chapters of his life, recognizes the mistakes that the people made along the way.
This reflection comes the same week we commemorate Tisha B’Av, where we commemorate the destruction of the First and Second Temple along with many other calamities that occurred on Tisha B’Av throughout history.
This year, a joyous day of Simchat Torah turned into Tisha B’Av, the worst day in Jewish history of this generation.
As we commemorate Tisha B’Av and read the book of Lamentations, authored by the prophet Jeremiah who witnessed the exile of Jews from Jerusalem, we must recognize that today, we have Jerusalem. And since we do, we must also ask, “What will we do to ensure that future generations will have the same honor that we have?” How will we educate, advocate, love, and share Jerusalem with the world?
This is a Tisha B’Av like no other. Just like Moses, we can look back at the places and moments where we too have been angry with God. Yet, we must also focus our energies on ensuring that God’s presence does not leave us.
