The Spies dispatched 40 days earlier by Moses to tour the Promised Land return to Israel's encampment in the desert, bearing a huge cluster of grapes and other lush fruits. But even as they praise the land's fertility, they terrify the people with tales of mighty giant warriors dwelling there and assert that the land is unconquerable.
Links:
Generation Gap
The Spies
Fighting breaks out inside the besieged city of Jerusalem between Jewish factions divided on the question of whether or not to fight the Roman armies encircling the city from without. One group sets fire to the city's considerable food stores, consigning its population to starvation until the fall of Jerusalem three years later.
The fast of Tishah B'Av begins this evening at sunset.
Some of the fast's mourning practices--such as refraining from Torah study other than texts related to the events and nature of the fast day--are observed beginning from midday today.
The final meal before the start of the fast, eaten shortly before sunset, is called seudah hamafseket. Only one cooked food is eaten at this meal, customarily an egg dipped in ashes.
"Eichah"--the Book of Lamentations--is read tonight in the synagogue after evening prayers.
See "Laws and Customs" for tomorrow, Av 9, for the particular observances of the fast day.
During the “Nine Days" from Av 1st to the Ninth of Av, we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple. We abstain from meat and wine, music, haircutting, bathing for pleasure, and other joyous (and dangerous) activities. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent halachic authority for details.)
Consumption of meat and wine is permitted on Shabbat, or at a seudat mitzvah (obligatory festive meal celebrating the fulfillment of certain mitzvot) such as a brit (circumcision), or a siyum celebrating the completion of a course of Torah study (i.e., a complete Talmudic tractate). The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory initiated the custom of conducting or participating in a siyum on each of the Nine Days (even if one does not avail oneself of the dispensation to eat meat).
Citing the verse "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with tzedakah," (Isaiah 1:27) the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period.
Links:
Nine Days laws and customs
Daily live siyum broadcasts
Learn about the Holy Temple in Jerusalem
You murmured in your tents, saying, '"Because G‑d hates us, He took us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to exterminate us." (Deuteronomy 1:27)
Really, He loves you, but you despised Him. As the common saying goes, “Whatever is in your heart towards your friend, you imagine he feels towards you.” (Rashi)
Often we justify our own feelings by projecting them on others, twisting the entire relationship backward and upside-down.
We can’t get our way, so we say, “I’m doing everything to accommodate them, and they’re being so stubborn.”
And they say, “But it’s just the opposite! You won't give an inch!”
We don’t want to be around people, so we feel, “I’m trying to be nice to them, but they don’t want me around.”
And they say, “We would love to have you around, but you don’t seem to want to be here with us.”
In just the same way, we project our own feelings on the One who made us, attempting to twist truth inside-out.
We become absorbed with our own little world and can’t find room for G‑d within it, so we feel, “All I am to G-d is just an ugly little cockroach messing up His universe.”
How does G‑d feel?
There, with G‑d, is the true reality.
That He gives you life and all things He knows are good for you and awaits the time you will recognize how good it all is.
That He showers you with love, and awaits the time that you will return that love to Him.
That He eagerly awaits every word of your prayers, treasures every mitzvah you might do, kisses every word of Torah that comes from your lips—but you have no idea how precious you are to Him.
You may push back. You may run away. But just one small turn, and He’s there waiting.
Run from your delusions. Embrace reality. Reality is love.