That’s the Ninth of Av, or Tisha B’Av.
We remember the destruction of both Holy Temples in Jerusalem on this day. Not just that, but a whole string of tragedies that seem to have clustered around this one date in history. It's a day of fasting, of somber reflection, and a deep mourning for what has been lost.
But what if I told you that this day of ultimate sadness…is destined to become a day of ultimate joy?
It sounds almost impossible, right? Yet, tucked away in the wisdom of our tradition, is a vision of a future where Tisha B’Av is transformed. Can you even picture it?
The idea isn't just some fanciful dream. It's rooted in the words of the prophet Zechariah (8:19), hinting at a time when fast days will become festivals. But how does that leap from prophecy to reality?
Well, according to the Yalkut Shimoni on Lamentations (Eikhah, 998), and elaborated upon in the Babylonian Talmud (B. Ta'anit 30b) and Pesikta Rabbati 28, God Himself will turn the Ninth of Av into a time of rejoicing. He will rebuild Jerusalem, brick by blessed brick, and gather all the exiles of Israel back to their homeland.
Think about that for a moment.
The very day that commemorates our greatest national tragedies will be the day we celebrate our ultimate redemption. It’s a powerful, almost unbelievable, reversal.
Why? What’s the purpose of such a dramatic shift?
The Zohar tells us that whoever mourns for Jerusalem in this world will rejoice with her in the World to Come. It's a profound statement about the connection between our present actions and our future reward. Our tears today pave the way for unimaginable joy tomorrow. The depth of our sorrow now mirrors the height of our happiness then.
This transformation speaks to something fundamental about the messianic era. It won't just be a minor upgrade to the current system. It will be a radical, complete, and utter re-imagining of everything we know. A world turned right-side up.
It’s more than just a historical footnote, isn't it? It's a myth – a story that shapes our understanding of the world. This particular myth, beautifully explored by Howard Schwartz in Tree of Souls, gives us hope. It tells us that even the deepest pain isn't permanent. Even the darkest day can be transformed into the brightest.
So, as we observe Tisha B’Av, let us mourn. But let us also hold onto that glimmer of hope, that promise of a future where tears of sorrow become tears of joy. Because in the end, that’s what our tradition teaches us: that even in the face of devastation, redemption is always possible.