A DAY OF SADNESS AND MOURNING

 

One of the saddest days in Jewish history took place on Saturday, 7 October 2023, when the Nation of Israel, while observing the Shabbat and celebrating the joyous day of ‘Simchat Torah’, was treacherously attacked by Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

 

Almost immediately, Israel declared war on Hamas.

At first, most of the world showed sympathy towards Israel – South Africa, Russia and some of the Arab world were an exception. 

However because Israel retaliated strongly and has been busy with a ground incursion into Gaza for ten months as I write this, much of the world is fervently condemning Israel for defending herself.

In fact it seems that much of the world has conveniently forgotten the horrendous and barbaric attacks that took place on Saturday, 7 October on innocent men, women, young and old – even Holocaust survivors some of whom are still being held hostage by the inhumane terrorist group, Hamas.

The world has conveniently forgotten the women who were savagely raped, innocent children who were viciously murdered – even babies.

And what about the pregnant woman whose belly was cut open by the Hamas monsters and her unborn child murdered?

 

One year and ten months on, Israel is still fighting a war, and the world’s hatred of Israel and the Jewish people grows day by day. 

 

At sunset on the 2nd August 2025, Jewish people all over the world begin the annual 24 hour fast of ‘Tisha B’Av’ (the ninth day of the Hebrew month of ‘Av’) which this year takes place on the 3rd August.  

 

The fast commemorates the destruction of the First and Second temples in Jerusalem which occurred about 656 years apart, but on the same date. Accordingly, ‘Tisha B’Av’ has been called the “saddest day in Jewish history”.

 

According to Jewish writings, ‘Tisha B’Av’ actually commemorates five events: 

 

1. The twelve spies sent by Moses to observe the land of Canaan returned from their mission. Two of the scouts, Joshua and Caleb, brought a positive report, but the others spoke disparagingly about the land which caused the Children of Israel to cry, panic and despair of ever entering the “Promised Land”. For this, their punishment from G-d was that their generation would not enter the land. Because of the Israelites' lack of faith, G-d decreed that for all generations this date would become one of crying and misfortune for their descendants, the Jewish people. The account of this is found in the Bible in the Book of Numbers chapters 13–14. 

 

2. The First Temple built by King Solomon as well as the Southern Kingdom of Judah were destroyed by the Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BCE and the Judeans were sent into the Babylonian exile. 

3. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, scattering the people of Judea and commencing the Jewish exile from the Holy Land.

 

4. Simon Bar Kochba’s revolt against Rome failed in 135 CE. Bar Kochba was killed, and the city of Betar was destroyed. 

 

5. Following the Roman siege of Jerusalem, the razing of Jerusalem occurred the next year. 

 

According to the ‘Talmud’, the destruction of the Second Temple began on the ninth of ‘Av’ and was finally consumed by the flames the next day on the Tenth of ‘Av’.

 

The ‘Tisha B'Av’ fast lasts about 24 hours, beginning at sunset on the eve of ‘Tisha B'Av’ and ending at nightfall the next day. In addition, mourning customs similar to those applicable to the ‘shiva’ period (seven days of mourning) immediately following the death of a close relative are traditionally followed for at least part of the day, including sitting on low stools, refraining from work, and not greeting others.

 

Other calamities associated with ‘Tisha B'Av’ are:

 

• Jews were expelled from England in 1290. 

• The ‘Alhambra Decree’ of 1492, expelling the Jews from Spain, took effect on the 7th of ‘Av’, just two days before ‘Tisha B'Av’. 

• On the eve of ‘Tisha B'Av’ 1942, the mass deportation began of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto, en-route to Treblinka.

 

On a visit to Israel, my late wife of blessed memory and I were in Jerusalem on ‘Tisha B’Av’. We were in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem near the Zion Gate, and we observed hundreds of Jewish people hurriedly walking to the ‘Kotel’ to begin ‘Tisha B’Av’.

Suddenly I began to weep as I saw the earnestness with which these devout Jewish men and women were walking to the ‘Kotel’; hoping to please G-d.

 

I realized that there was nothing they could do to please G-d except receive the gift of salvation offered through Yeshua. I also realized that this would not happen unless someone would inform them that Yeshua is the ‘Mashiach’ (Messiah) they are waiting for. This is G-d’s mandate for the church, and this is the mandate of Emet Ministries.

 

As we think of all the calamities which have befallen the Jewish people over the years during this period of ‘Tisha B’Av’; as our hearts cry out with their hearts over all the atrocities that have befallen the Jewish people throughout the ages as well as ten short months ago, let us continue to pray and trust for their salvation. Let us pray that G-d removes the veil that He has sovereignly placed over the hearts and minds of the Jewish people concerning the Messiahship of Yeshua. Let us pray that G-d will thrust out workers into the Jewish harvest field.

 

Even more than this, let us take the good news of Yeshua to them ourselves.

Romans 10:14-15 declares: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things! (Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” – (Isaiah 52:7)

 

My brothers and sisters of the flesh need to hear about their Jewish Messiah, Yeshua, so that they too, can have the chance of salvation, the forgiveness of sin and eternal life in heaven.

Jewish people have suffered many calamities over ‘Tisha B’Av’; however, no calamity for a Jewish person (or any person) is worse than dying without Yeshua.

 

Let us all stand with and pray for the Jewish people and Israel over this sad and tragic time of ‘Tisha B’Av’. Let us also pray that not one more tragedy will be added to the day known as ‘Tisha B’Av’. 

 

Even more than this, let us share the gospel with Jewish people we know, and let us rejoice for every Jewish soul who comes to faith in their Jewish ‘Moshiach’, Yeshua.