FAQs of 9 b' av 1 & 2 tample distroyed with the city of Jerusalem (killing millions of Jews) city of beitar destroyed (Killing at least 580.000 jews) begining of the first cruzades expulsion of the jews from france england (12 13 century) inquisision and expulsion from spain1492 portugal1496 begining of 1st world war issued "final solution" by hitler in the 2 world war terrorist attacks in argentina known as amia 1992 and finally "desingagment" (gush katif) these are only few of the faqs that i rememberd by heart and there is a lot more......now Mr. Guy Oren, are sure that this is a date to be celebrated??? by who??

The destruction of the temples is not the only tragedy that occurred during the three weeks: * Fall of Betar (9 Av) * Spanish Inquisition ordered (9 Av) * Hitler elected Chancellor of Germany * Kovno ghetto liquidated (17 Tammuz) I commemorate the Three Weeks because of all our tragedies from Biblical times until today. Just like we will continue to commemorate Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron in another 1000 years from now...

Mr Joiner, I would happy to answer your questions, but unfortunately you will not listen and/or understand. You may wish to consult a Rabbi in your area. They would be able to answer any and all questions that you may have.. Not trying to be rude, BUT this is a FAMILY matter. Since you are Christian YOU are NOT FAMILY. Jews are a RACE of people who by DNA lineage and those who have converted to Judaism ascribe to a Monotheism. Actually we started Monotheism 3700-3800 years ago. Whether a Jew is Pious or Secular is none of your business. So Please don't get involved in our family matters. Also just because Jesus was Jewish, doesn't mean you are Jewish.

Daniel, my friend, don't you think that you may be going a little over board?

Maybe this article was not the most pious exposition of Judaistic faith.....Surely it wasn't. It was only an opinion by a secular JEW explaining ones sense of Jewish solidarity from an alternative perspective.......Granted, very alternative. Let's display some of the tolerance, through our comments, that we have pioneered. Maybe this person did not have the benefit of an early Jewish education like so many lucky others have.Maybe this is the unique and only way in which this person can latch onto his Judaism. Many may not agree, but the author was concerned enough to share his insight. We can always learn from other perspectives as Judaism is alive and living around the world......Sometimes in offshoot forms. It may not be the Judaism that you and I have come to know and love, but be thankful that its influences are spreading with much that we have in common and hold dear.

The views expressed in the article above are another example of a Diasporic Judaistic Manifestation. Possible origin is the United states. Like it or not, it is a growing organization in the US. Its another path that some Jews choose to walk. Outside the Holy Land of Israel Judaism continues to take on new forms. Remember.......When two Jews get together, you usually get three opinions!

Even if you think good emerged from the Jewish tragedy of Tisha Ba'av, don't celebrate the tragedy!!! If a parent loses a child to illness and is motivated to start a charity to help other sick children, that is genuine goodness coming from the pain of tragedy. Yet nobody can suggest to that parent to celebrate the anniversary of their child's death! One can argue that the State of Israel might not have been formed by the UN had the Holocaust not happened. But this positive event wouldn't cause any rational person to celebrate the Holocaust on Yom HaShoa! Think about it.

Cutting to the chase, the problem your arguement presents is found in the possibility that the worship in the temple, mediated by the high priests, is actually the proper way to worship God. Furthermore, you're also missing the main point of the fast. While we are indeed mourning the loss of the temple, we also need to reflect on the sins which brought it about.

Judaism is not merely a religion, in fact the Bible never even mentions it. The Bible talk about an Am or Bnei Yisrael. In fcat nowhere in our prayer books will you ever see the words Jews or Judaism. Being a "Jew" is a national thing, we are all part of a nation that adheres to certain laws and norms. If you dont adhere to them you are still a Jew. Dont forget although we believe our forefathers knew the Torah, it wasn't given for many generations after the first Jew. So in fact the national character and status of a people came before there was a religion. A Jew is always a Jew even if he believes in Jesus or Mohammed or even Buddha. The prime mistake people make is throwing Judiams in as a religion comparable to Christianity and Islam. That is also why we dont prostelise, because we dont force people to join our people but if they want to then there are ways to become a part of us. One final statement is that Jesus himself lived and died a Jew, even if he wasnt adhering to every Jewish precept. So a "secular" Jew like Guy Oren is a Jew no matter what his beliefs.

I will attempt to explain what we call a secular Jew. As a Torah observant Jew we accept upon ourselves the observation of all 613 Commandments as found in the Torah. Amongst these Mitzvah are commandments concerning the laws of Kosher food, wearing certain garments including TzitTzit, putting scrolls of Torah on our doorposts {Mezzuzah}, observing the laws of Shabbos {From sundown Friday [Kabbalat Shabbos] night to sundown Saturday [Havdallah]. There are 613 Mitzvahs in the five books of Moshe, or the Chumash, or the Pentatuch to you. Morning and evening prayer are commandments, and charity and justice are mitzvahs also. A secular Jew pooh poohs the mitzvahs, saying that Mitzvahs are just authoratarian mumbo-jumbo, the priests just using their power for vanity. They, like Jesus, saw the mitzvahs as an obstruction to getting close to Hashem. As a result they personally came to the conclusion that they don't have to observe mitzvahs, believe in the divine word as passed down in Written Torah and the Oral Torah. A secular Jew cuts himself off from the wealth of wisdom and insight offered to a True Torah Obversvant Jew through the mitzvahs. Mitvahs, far from being an obstacle to being close to Him, it is exactly a means of being close to him. This is the reason some will flout their refusal to accept the yoke of heaven, they instead build a Temple in their own image, and bow to falsity. Study of the Tehillim, the Psalms of David is a good way to feel the exhilaration of being in Hashems presence. We all long for the absolute magnificence of the Shechina, the palpable presence of the Almighty creator of the world and protector of Zion. His presence was felt in the Temple, that is why we miss Him so much. I am sorry I have to be so critical of my fellow. I struggle with this paradox each day. I love all of His creations, I wish I could help them see the path. I hope I helped a bit in explaining the difference of a secular Jew and a religious Jew.

Mr. Joiner, I live, travel, work thruout the Deep South of the US. Because I am in constant contact with Christians, I have become extremely wary of Christians and their motives behind their questions. Although I am "secular" I have been subjected to physical violence many times, just because I'm a Jew. And/or because I refuse to convert to Christianity, And/or the Jews killed Jesus. If your question was asked in actual innocence, please accept my apologizes for being so terse in my comment. But please contact a Rabbi in your area if you really want to know about Judaism. The study of the Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets) and the Kethuvim (Writings) these are what make up our Bible (TaNaKh) is NEVER ending for us(Jews). Over 200 of the 613 Mitzvahs alone concern the Temple. While Michael U in #40 made an excellent attempt, he but only scratched the surface about Jews and the complexity of Judaism. Even the most Torah observant Jews will find the study/words of the Torah to be confusing at times.

first the religion is in the heart //when muhamad was dead ,some moslems do not believe that and started to leave the isla .syidna abou baker said [who believed on muhamad .muhamad wa dead but who believes on god ,god will never die he is alive ... it is about th worbhip ...but about mecca and alkaaba it was present befor the islam and it was full of idols and the arabs worship the place not the only god ,,at the birth of muhamad in the same year ,abraha wanted to destroy the kaaba .the grandfather of muhamad said that house has a lord it is god and it willdefine it ,,and this event wa 40 years befor the islam ,,i mean at the time of islam many can remember the event ..so wore ship the god not a place or a person

Yes, I can understand! And this article changes life! It is truth in it! God has made heaven and earth! He ist holy spirit! And in this way can God teach every people to priests. God can all do, what he want! Temple is a symbol for "what believe" in my spirit! But God is building a new temple in his universal world! This is future! Until now: thank you for very good article!

And there are a lot of dumb articles out there! Normally, haters of Judaism spew hatred, and some lies, but this guy's whole system of rationalization and ignorance is simply amazing, maybe revolutionary. I'm going to show this to all my friends!

I want the person who wrote this article to know it isnt just walls we are mourning, it is the separation from Hakadosh Baruj Hu, its not knowing what he thinks of us, if we are forgiven for our sins. the world became a place of hatred yo and between the jews, the galut is tough, that is what we mourn, nt just some walls, some system. its hard now to see miracles, to educate our children, that is what we mourn. i dont see no positive things about Hashem leaving us, the only thing is that it was us or the temple. we couldnt live both toghether anymore. thats sad...............

... even on tisha be'av you can publish articles against judaism in your "jewish" section !

I have many read the talkbacks and I can smiling. nr 13, 14, 17, 29, 30 ect.... In the last month I had read Nebiim Zacharia and last ofcourse by romans in 12. chapter is written: I beseech you therefore, ( jews ), by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and ecceptable, and perfect, will of God. So long, and I am waiting to looking at every night to example of Zacharia, Secharja. It is written about temple! A new temple and by many other scriptures!

Guy Oren is way off base. The Temple represents our connection to the Almighty. We lost it due to our lack of devotion to Hashem and lack of respect for our fellow Jews. The Temple needs to be rebuilt, but only when we deserve it. As long as Oren's attitude is ascendent we will remain in the desert.

Israel has accomplished all that G_d intended with His Covenant. The world has been given His Words, His Word has been preserved, We have His Messiah. His Covenant has been fulfilled completely. His Temple will be rebuilt. Messiah will come to reign from the Temple after a period of peace initiated by His imposter, follwed by equal period of turmoil, when His diabolical enemy posing as Messiah is revealed.

we need to revolutionize our relegion..and take care of it before hizbubbo does.....!!!

What is wrong with you??? A secular humanist are you? Do you really think that your people survived millenia of persecution because you are so tough? of so resourceful? perhaps you think it is because the rest of the world is so kind? Despite the best efforts of the worlds maddest madmen the jewish nation lives...and you doubt your creator. Well, why should I care? I suppose you could rely on your secular humanist strength to win the current war (after all, you have won all the others haven't you). The difference is that this time, Israel is not just fighting over land. This time, the "party of god"has decided it will challenge the people of G'd. Unless you know that and act accordingly (i.e. as the"People of G;d"), you will die in this war...you and your country. My best wishes for a speedy awakening.

Mal 2:7 For the Cohen's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of YAHWEH Sabaoth. Mal 2:7 כי־שׂפתי כהן ישׁמרו־דעת ותורה יבקשׁו מפיהו כי מלאך יהוה־צבאות הוא׃ Mal 2:11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of YAHWEH which He loveth, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Mal 2:11 בגדה יהודה ותועבה נעשׂתה בישׂראל ובירושׁלם כי חלל יהודה קדשׁ יהוה אשׁר אהב ובעל בת־אל נכר׃

I didn't want to say anything here cause it is so bad. All I can say is this author should be the first animal sacrifice when we get our Temple back. No, let's call it a practice test, incase someone is nearsighted, oops, a human, let's try again.

Do you honestly believe that God demands animal sacrifices? The strengths of our religion have shown themselves by keeping us an extraordinary people over the past 2000 years. The very fact of Israel's existence and a Jewish people to populate the land is proof enough of Torah truths for many people. I have a brother who says he does not believe in religion. My reply to him, is 'if it wasn't for the Jewish religion, you wouldn't exist.' But maybe the religion, the strong true Judaism which has preserved us for the past 2000 . . . should that be abandoned for worship at a Third Temple? I don't think that God will be any stronger with us or or the present Judaism improved by a Third Temple.