Dr. Chaim Y. Botwinick
July 27, 2025
This Saturday evening, immediately after Shabbat, we will be observing the second Tisha B’Av since the unprecedented Hamas massacre of October 7th.
The profound sadness, deep pain and anguish of Tisha B’Av is difficult to bare under normal circumstances. It is even more difficult to observe since October 7th, which only exacerbates and magnifies the harsh significance of this national and communal day of Jewish mourning.
One has only to experience the proliferation of articles, divrei torah and posts relating to this topic in order to truly understand the profound significance of observing Tisha B’av for the second year in a row. It is painfully difficult on many levels. In fact, last Tisha B’Av we were all hoping and praying that by now, the precious hostages still being held by Hamas would have been released and that our war with Hamas would have ended in victory. But, unfortunately, to no avail.
Friends, here we are once again, on the eve of Tisha B’Av – still hoping, yearning, praying and begging HaShem that our dear hostages be released and that we would all see a victorious defeat of our enemies and all those with intentions to annihilate our people and the Jewish State.
Since October 7th, acheinu bnai yisrael have experienced a non-stop seismic explosion of global anti-Semitism, Jew hatred, devastating missile and rocket attacks on our homeland and an existential conflict on several fronts with Israel. These harsh realities do not include the painful and heartbreaking false starts and hope relating to the promise of a hostage deal and/or a temporary ceasefire in hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
The Tisha B’Av Perspective
As I reflect upon the juxtaposition of Tisha B’av and the horrifying events of October 7th and the events since that date, I tremble at the thought that maybe, just maybe
there is a relationship between the internal domestic societal matzav in Israel and continued non-stop tragedies now facing Am Yisrael, Bnai Yisrael, Acheinu Ysrael and Eretz Yisrael.
Yes, we have witnessed many unbelievable nisim (miracles) since October 7th. But I shudder at the thought had these miracles not been realized.
Throughout my adult life, I was taught to never automatically assume causal relationships between events in Jewish history unless indicated by our sages in their holy writings.
Tragedies occur to a people because it is the will of HaShem. Plain and simple.
Having said that, it is also well known and an accepted notion that the destruction of the two holy temples in Yerushalayim were the result of sinat chinam – baseless hatred between and among our people. This well-known belief is documented and codified in the writings by our great sages.
As we know, there are many who attribute the horrifying massacre of October 7th almost exclusively to a significant lapse in IDF vigilance, intelligence and security. But even if that was indeed the case, there are those who sincerely and truly believe that in addition to human error or failure, that the reasons or causes for this and other national tragedies of such magnitude, are far beyond our understanding or human comprehension. ……not unlike the horrendous events of the Holocaust. To be sure, these events are ordained and determined singularly b’yad HaShem, and b’etzpah HaShem only – through the hand and figure of GD.
The one observation which I do humbly posit, is when I compare the events and zeitgeist leading up to the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and to those events leading up to October 7th. In fact, I can’t help but think about the striking similarities.
We learn from our Jewish texts that the causes for the destruction of Beit HaMikdash was attributed to sinant chinam.…the unadulterated and baseless hatred among and between our people within the Jewish community. There are hundreds of commentaries and Judaic texts and sources which validate and support this historical fact and contention.
Fast forward to October 7th……….
To suggest a lack of achdut (unity) within our Jewish camp in Israel just prior to October 7th, would be monumental understatement.
It is interesting and curious to note that the events in Israel just prior to the October 7th tragedy were that of significant social unrest, civil disobedience as well as significant consternation, as well as hatred between religious and non-religious members of the Israeli society. In fact, the matzav (situation) was so tenuous and dangerous that many Israeli leaders were fearful of a civil war breaking out. To be sure, the streets of Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv were spilling over with vile hatred and disgust between religious and non-religious groups…and between those who would agree to the reform of Israel’s judicial system and those who were vehemently against it.
Friends, is it not curious or even coincidental that this deadly violence and hatred in the streets and neighborhoods of Israel occurred just prior to the October 7th tragedy?
I began to imagine that these scenes of hatred and violence between our people are in many ways reminiscent of the hatred and sinat chinam which led to the destruction of the second Holy Temple.
Again, I am not at all suggesting with any degree of certainty that these events led up to or caused the October 7th surprise attack on our brothers and sisters in Israel. Having said that, it nevertheless does present more than a coincidental scenario.
Finally, I cannot recall a period in my lifetime where we have experienced such internal hatred among our people or the a lack of respect for one- another’s religious practices or values It is truly disheartening, depressing and beyond upsetting.
My only take-away from this observation is that the lack of achdut – both prior to and following the October 7th tragedy should be a subtle reminder to all of Acheinu Bais Yisrael that we should never ever take our achdut for granted.
Although we do see and observe periods of achdut throughout history in our communities, they are sporadic at best and are more often than not realized following as opposed to prior to communal tragedy or catastrophe.
As I have written and blogged on numerous occasions, this “chicken or egg”
phenomenon must teach all of us that achdut and ahavat yisrael may prevent tragedy; and it should not be viewed only as a product, end result or outcome of tragedy.
As we are about to observe Tisha B’av, it is imperative that we constantly remind ourselves that achdut bnai yisrael does not happen by itself or in a vacuum. . It requires hard work, continuous perspective, introspection, due diligence and a love for acheinu.
To this end, I humbly suggest that this Tisha B’av mark the beginning of a new and renewed period of achdut – one which enables us to respect each other, love each other, care for one other and protect one other.
If there is any lesson we learned from the Holocaust of October 7th and by extension from the spread and proliferation of global antisemitism, and Jew hatred, it that we only have ourselves to depend upon.
When will we learn the lessons of Tisha B’Av and by extention the outcomes of October 7th. When will the hatred and sinat chinam between brothers and sisters in Israel stop? When will we no longer witness the spilling of innocent Jewish blood of yeshiva students refusing to be inducted into the IDF; or violence protests against the Israeli government in the streets of Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv.
Yes, Israel has its share of significant challenges, problems and crises which are beyond daunting. But, we must also remember that we are all one family with one common destiny. We will always have our differences of opinion and ways in which to express our values. But above all, we must always remember that we were all created B’tzelem Elokim – in the image of HaShem.
This therefore demands a level of true achdut and ahavat yisrael as never before.
If not now, when?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Chaim Botwinick is a senior executive coach and an organizational consultant. He served as president and CEO of the central agency for Jewish education in Baltimore and in Miami; in addition
to head of school and principal for several Jewish day schools and yeshivot. As an Influencer, he has published and lectured extensively on topics relating to education, resource development, strategic planning and leadership development. Dr. Botwinick is Author of “Think Excellence: Harnessing Your Power to Succeed beyond Greatness”, Brown Books, 2011
