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MembersIf I forget thee, O’ Jerusalem …

We continue to pass our heritage and values on to the next generation.

The Temple Mount seen from the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City on a snowy winter day, Dec. 13, 2013. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.
The Temple Mount seen from the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City on a snowy winter day, Dec. 13, 2013. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

(JNS) This week—on Tuesday night, to be exact—we begin a rather sad period in the Jewish calendar known as the Nine Days. It begins with Rosh Chodesh, marking the new month of Menachem Av, and will conclude after Tisha B’Av on July 23. These are the saddest days of the year: a national day of mourning with a 25-hour fast commemorating the date when both Holy Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed.

The First Temple, built by King Solomon, was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in 586 BCE. The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E. by the Roman Empire under Titus, hence the Arch of Titus in Rome celebrating his victory and the expulsion of the Jews from Jerusalem.

Many people ask a seemingly legitimate question. Why are we still crying over events that occurred some 2,000 years ago? “Get over it” or “Let it lie,” they say. “Why keep remembering forever? Enough already!”

It’s a fair question.

Here is a story from a more recent period of destruction, the Holocaust.

While in the concentration camp, a Torah...

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About the author

Patrick Callahan

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One response to “If I forget thee, O’ Jerusalem …”

  1. AGR says:

    I believe the Jews still exist and prosper because of a covenant between the Lord and Abraham, no matter how many times they have forgotten the Lord, He has brought them back to His glory, not theirs.
    Where are those in the past who believed they got rid of the Jews? got rid of the temples? they are gone, forgotten. The Jews are still here and, ARE, going to build the third temple. No one will stop them, not even the antichrist can stop them. That should tell Israels enemies something, but blind and deaf people will step into the fire anyway.

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