It is the first of the Hebrew month of Av. The month where we recall the two destructions of the Holy Temple. The ninth of Av is the day the sages determined that the Temples were destroyed. As the ninth of Av approaches, we enter deeper into despair, we turn off the music, let our hair grow unkempt, weddings are postponed. Meat and wine are avoided. This is a somber time. On the ninth of Av, we reenact the devastation of Jerusalem.   Sitting on the synagogue floor, we read the Book of Lamentations. The language is graphic: “The tongue of the suckling cleaves to its palate for thirst” (Lamentations 4:4), “More fortunate were the victims of the sword than the victims of famine…Hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became food when the daughter of my people was shattered.” Lamentations 4:9-10). This book is not for the fainthearted.

It is the first of Av and I open the paper. Headline: Harare, Zimbabwe- the city of 4.5 million people is running out of water. Another news source reports: Fourteen million people in Yemen at risk of starvation. Headline: Migrants fleeing famine and violence languishing in crowded, hot and filthy detention camps. It is the third of Av and the radio announces: shootings in El Paso, Texas and in Dayton, Ohio leaving 31 dead and many injured. We turn a blind eye to environmental degradation, we turn a deaf ear to human suffering. If you dare to open your eyes and ears the news almost paralyzes you. Who needs the Book of Lamentations?

After the destruction of the Temple Judaism had to change. Prayer replaced sacrifices, learning and studying replaced Temple ritual. Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakai led the way. His students came to him in shock and fear, wondering how the Jewish people could survive this second destruction of the Temple. The Midrash tells us that when the students asked how would they communicate with the Almighty without a Temple and without sacrifices, how could they go on, Ben Zakai answered that they would serve God through Tzedek- righteousness. Judaism is profoundly different than before the destruction of the second Temple, but it survived and thrived. Our global temple is burning. The incredible biodiversity is being devastated. Everywhere you turn there is hate and fear. To survive we must change. We need righteousness and wisdom to guide us. Where is our leader? Where is our Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakai?