This is the 9th day of the 11th month in the Hebrew calendar, and is commemorated every year by Jews around the world as the anniversary of the destruction of both temples. In both cases, the destruction was a portend to exile for all Jews and obscurity for a great many of them.
But tradition has it that hope is born on Tisha B'Av.
In Israel, a human chain stretched from Gush Katif to haKotel yesterday. Shofars across the line sounded, and all sang Hatikvah - The Hope - Israel's national anthem.
Today, no Jews - in fact no non-Muslims - are allowed on the Temple Mount, and the Jerusalem police are enforcing the prohibition. I see the necessity of this but am struck by the symbolism. From Gush Katif to the Western Wall, but no further. By choice, by force of constraint, Israel holds back.
Not that anyone would give her credit.
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