Unity, Social Justice and Tisha BeAv
Channel: Leadelnet
Date: 2011-08-14

Ahavat Hinam (Love for all) - was the slogan of this year's Tisha BeAv, which stroke accord against the backdrop of waves of protests around the country. According to our sages, the second temple was destroyed because of Sin'at Chinam (hatred without cause). This year's Tish'a be Av on Sderot Rothild brought different sectors of Israel together in Ahavat Hinam 
For weeks now Israeli people spill out onto the streets demanding social justice and change of government policies. What started as an uprisal against unaffordable rental, got permeated by all kinds of groups and sectors in Israeli society with a call for change.
TZAV PIUS -- an organization promoting dialogue between religious and secular had organized the Tisha Be Av discussion panel in the middle of a tent city on Sderot Rotshild. Different ideas gave sounds around. The Jewish temple represented the idea of unity and a place of belonging and this what was destroyed. Fortunately at the place of destruction there is often a potential for a new growth. And this is an analogy you can see today around the cities in Israel. People cant identify with our government, feeling the country doesn't belong to the them anymore. Connecting the points between the house of the temple that was destroyed, house as the place we live in and CAN NOT AFFORD, and house as our national home, at this point it seems that we miss all of the three. 
The slogans and posts all around speak of the sense of exile in our own home of Israel. Voices from Social workers, Single mothers, Divorcing fathers, religious and secular had gained national solidarity. The protestors raise the idea of hominess which is deeper and more vibrant.
One of the speakers reads from sources: "They say - love will win, but love can not win because in the place there is love there is no winner. At the place where there is a victory, love loses. The greatness of love is in compromise, sacrifice and humility". Perhaps from this place we can repair the solidarity from within us.
Different interpretations of word "Eicha" (megilat Eicha) are discussed. Rabi Nechemia's surces  take us back to the primordial G-d's call to Adam (from bereshit) -- "ayeka?", where are you? "Eicha" reading of this year on Sderot Rotshield , had raised the same meaningful question. Where are we in the world now? What is your place?
Someone came and spoke about the same abbreviation of hatred without cause -- "Sinat Chinam" (S"H) as Israeli Shekel -- "Shkalim Chadashim" (S"H) pointing to the audience how our poor capitalist economy creates Sinat Chinam between people.
Overall it was a very inspiring and powerful social spectacle, calling for a constructive change in the ways we talk politics in Israel. Seeing religious people looking for partners in Tel Aviv for creating a better society together hasn't been trivial in Israel for many many years. People suddenly realized that the core values are the same in different people. Will the differences of different groups and agendas will wind this protest down or the solidarity of a nation wanting back its country win, is the question without answer. Tisha be av on Sderot Rotshield had gained another face this year.