America takes sports quite seriously. Baseball is our national pastime, and basketball and hockey are not too shabby. The Super Bowl is the most viewed annual event of the year, with millions of people tuning in the world over. But soccer has never really made it in the United States. For that reason, I was never too familiar with the World Cup.
During the summer of 2018, I had two Brazilian campers in my division who joined us for their midwinter break (!) In addition, there were numerous counselors and staff members from England. For a few weeks, all they seem to want to talk about is soccer (“fooootbul” as they call it) and the World Cup. The English counselors had the whole camp dining room singing the English chant from the World Cup.
One of the Brazilian campers was teary-eyed when he found out Brazil lost to Belgium.
When I spoke to them afterwards, they explained to me that the World Cup is an event that only takes place once every four years. It also involves countries from the entire world. The pride factor is unparalleled in any other sport or forum.
My Brazilian campers couldn’t stand baseball. They would imitate the game by falling asleep with a bat in hand. Soccer, by contrast, is played with two 45-minute halves of non-stop action. Even American hockey and basketball are not that intense. That summer, England lost a heartbreaker to Croatia—denying them the chance to face France for the world championship. (It’s a shame; it would have been a repeat of many of the medieval wars between France and England.) The English counselors were crestfallen.
The Taz notes that most of the laws and restrictions that we observe during the three weeks of mourning leading up to Tisha B’Av do not have their source in the Gemara, but were adopted by halachic authorities in later generations. In the time of the Gemara, the loss of the Bais Hamikdash was still relatively fresh. It wasn’t hard for the Jewish people to feel the tragedy of exile, with memories of the glory days of Yerushalayim not too far in the distant past. The challenge is that with the passage of time, emotions always fade.
With each passing generation, it becomes harder to realize the extent of our loss and to recognize how bereft we are in exile. Pesach is the most widely observed holiday in the Jewish world today. One of the main reasons for that is because of the plethora of laws, rituals and customs that are endemic to the beloved holiday. In contrast, Shavuos is virtually nonexistent outside the Orthodox community because there are no special laws associated with the holiday (eating dairy, staying awake learning all night and decorating the shul with flowers are all beloved customs, but are not at all obligatory). The holiday which celebrates the most seminal event and the most important component of creation—the Torah—must transcend symbolism and representation. But the cost is that the holiday has been forgotten outside of Orthodoxy.
How does Tisha B’Av and its meaning endure when we have little understanding of what we are missing? It’s because of the laws of mourning that we observe. The rituals and restrictions ensure that we will never forget what it stands for—despite the fact that we lack a proper appreciation of our loss.
The restrictive laws of this time period are uncomfortable and, perhaps, even annoying. The world around us is enjoying swimming and music in the hot sun, while we are desisting from those pleasures. But therein lies their significance and importance. Every time we feel uncomfortable because we are keeping the laws of mourning, we are ensuring that what it stands for will never be forgotten.
We don’t like being uncomfortable and choosing to be just that in order to honor the memory of the past (and future) glory of our nation, is honoring God in a unique manner. No doubt we enjoy honoring Hashem in our sukkah, eating matzah, dancing with the Torah, lighting Chanukah candles and hearing Megillah on Purim far more than limiting showers, not listening to music or taking haircuts, and sitting on the floor reciting unfamiliar lamentations on Tisha B’Av. But, perhaps, for that very reason it’s so crucial to observe the laws, and not be constantly seeking leniencies and ways around them (even if justifiable).
Everyone can be a fan when a team is winning every game and is cruising along. But only a real fan keeps cheering and hoping when his team is down in the dumps. In a certain sense, Tisha B’Av and the preceding weeks demonstrate who the real adherents and loyalists are. As the Navi promises—those who observe the laws of mourning will truly feel the joy of its ultimate consolation. May it be this year!
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is a popular speaker and author. He is a rebbe in Heichal HaTorah in Teaneck and an experienced therapist who has recently returned to seeing clients in private practice as part of the Rockland CBT group. To schedule an appointment with Rabbi Staum, call (914) 295-0115. Looking for an inspirational and motivational speaker or scholar-in-residence? Contact Rabbi Staum for a unique speaking experience by emailing [email protected]. Archives of his writings can be found at www.stamtorah.info.
