Before Tisha B’Av: Lessons from Singapore and Japan for repairing Israeli society

As Tisha B'Av approaches, a day historically marked by Jewish tragedy, the author Stewart Weiss suggests looking to seemingly disparate societies like Singapore and Japan for lessons on repairing Israeli society. Weiss posits that history, particularly Jewish history, is not random but guided, and that societal well-being can be influenced by observable practices.

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No event – certainly no major episode in Jewish history, and certainly not regarding Israel – occurs by happenstance.

The article draws a parallel between the "big" reasons for historical catastrophes, such as those cited in the Talmud for the destruction of the Temples (like baseless hatred, immorality, and desecration of Shabbat), and the "little things" that can foster societal improvement. Weiss argues that while major behavioral changes are necessary, seemingly minor societal habits can also evoke positive change and engender a reversal of misfortune.

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Perhaps the most famous indictment comes from Yoma, which cites the cardinal sins of adultery, immorality, and murder as responsible for the First Temple’s demise, while blaming sin’at hinam – baseless hatred – for the Second Temple’s destruction.

Drawing from a recent tour of the Far East, Weiss highlights Singapore as an example. He observes strict adherence to laws, with drivers patiently respecting traffic signals and road signs, rarely honking horns, and never driving on sidewalks. These practices, Weiss notes, contribute to a sense of order and safety that is conspicuously absent in his own country.

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I want to suggest that while all of the above “big” reasons for these global catastrophes express the need to mend our ways and require us to make major changes in our behavior, there are other, seemingly “little,” things that we can more easily do to evoke God’s mercy and engender a reversal of the misfortune.

Weiss contrasts these observations with the perceived lack of adherence to similar societal norms in Israel. He implies that adopting such seemingly small, yet powerful, practices could contribute significantly to mending the social fabric and fostering a more harmonious society, thereby addressing some of the underlying issues that historical Jewish texts associate with national calamities.

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In Singapore, for example, laws are strictly adhered to. Drivers respect road signs, waiting patiently to move until the light turns green, and signal at all turns; they rarely, if ever, honk their horns. Certainly, you will never, ever see a motorized vehicle on a sidewalk, endangering the life and limb of pedestrians.