A pool in Jerusalem that was used by pilgrims to the Second Temple some 2,000 years ago, according to soon-to-be-published research. Photo: Dr. David Gurevich.

What is so different about the fast of the 9th of Av (coming up next week), as opposed to all other post Biblical fasts?

Unlike all other fasts, except Yom Kippur, the 9th of Av fast lasts for more than 24 hours. The prevailing custom is that from the fast of Tamuz ( two weeks ago) we enter a period of mourning for the destruction of the two temples, our homeland, and the calamities that fell upon us.

The Talmud, however, only tells us that we stop celebrations from the New Moon of Av. We are also told to avoid getting involved in any legal cases and claims, or enter into any new ventures in the month of Av. Is this superstition — and fear about what brings good luck and what not — or is there something deeper? That tragedy merits recognition but not despair.

The dramatic impact on the character of the Jewish people in exile and the dispersion was an ongoing catastrophe. Except that in both cases, there followed a period of great innovation and renaissance. We were able to survive because we were scattered and because we learned to adapt, and sometimes to adopt features of other cultures. And each time we suffered exile, confiscation, hatred, and oppression, we survived and thrived.

After the Babylonion conquest of Judeah, and the victories of King Cyrus of Persia ( 2,500 years ago), he permitted the Jews who wanted to return to the Land of Judea and re-build the Temple in Jerusalem to do so. But opposition from Persian officials, local peoples, and the Samaritans (who claimed that they were the original Jews) prevented the rebuilding of the Temple. Then thanks to Darius the Great and Atarxerxes, Ezra and Nehemia arrived, to rebuild both physically and spiritually. Yet opposition came also from some Jews themselves, who chose to assimilate and turn against their own country.

Throughout the history of the Second Temple, Jews were divided between the pro-Greek assimilating Sadducees, and the more nationalist and religious Pharisees. Other sects moved out of Jerusalem to the caves above the Dead Sea to escape the conflicts. In both camps, there were those who sought peace and those who wanted to fight.

It is for this reason that the rabbis of the Talmud insisted that the destruction of both temples was due primarily to internal divisions and hatred. There were always those within us who would deny their Jewish heritage and turn against us.

Throughout Christian Medieval and post-medieval Europe (and under much of Islam), attacks on Jews were often fueled and encouraged by apostate Jews turning against their erstwhile brothers and sisters and siding with those who wanted to convert or kill us.

Today, we thought the world was more civilized. But sadly, that’s only true in parts. The new potential threats to our existence are overwhelming, both by internal political opposition and by the indoctrination of billions on the Internet across the world. And it seems to be impossible to find any common ground between the right and the left, or the religious and the secular, with demonstrations and civil disobedience on both sides. We see many secular Jews so alienated that they would rather join and merge into materialist and secular systems than try to focus on the need for a refuge and the right to self-determination (for better or worse).

The issue of Jews having a place to be has not been solved. And yet who, 100 years ago, would have imagined that we would be better equipped than we have ever been since (arguably) the days of Solomon to defend ourselves?

I fast on the Ninth of Av not just to remember our losses then, but also the losses now, because we have failed to persuade so many of us that the 9th of Av is worth fasting for.