Beyond mourning: Rebuilding the Temple starts with rebuilding Israeli society - opinion

As the period leading up to the Tisha B'Av fast day approaches, the focus often turns to the destruction of the Temples. However, the article argues that public grief alone is insufficient. It calls for an active effort to rebuild the legacy of the Temples, emphasizing that each generation is responsible for their restoration.

Dwelling excessively on sadness can lead to paralysis, providing an excuse for inaction. Instead, the path to rebuilding requires a spiritual and moral awakening. This involves restoring the vision of unity and justice that the Temples embodied, a vision that feels distant amid current societal discord and external threats like antisemitism, terrorism, and war.

The article draws a parallel between present-day disagreements on Jewish identity and values and the societal discord that preceded the Temples' destruction. It highlights the historical pilgrimages to Jerusalem during the Temple era, which united Jews from all backgrounds and fostered a sense of shared destiny and responsibility for a just society.

This ideal of shared responsibility is presented as crucial for contemporary Israeli society. The author points to the ongoing exemptions from military service for some ultra-Orthodox citizens as a contrast to this ideal, disproportionately burdening others with national security duties. The piece suggests that greater unity and shared responsibility would foster mutual respect, drawing on the Temple's historical role as a beacon for all humanity, as evidenced by the participation of non-Jews in Temple offerings and the cooperation seen today among diverse groups in Israeli society.