Jewish World Review July 25, 2001/ 5 Menachem-Av 5761
40,000 JEWS TO UNITE IN WORLDWIDE EFFORT TO INCREASE LOVE OF ONE'S FELLOW MAN
http://www.jewishworldreview.com --
TISHA B'AV, Jewry's national day of mourning, is quickly approaching, and this year has been one of our nation's toughest in recent memory.
The ongoing dangers and disasters besetting Israel arouse in every Jew's heart
a variety of emotions, from compassion for the victims to confusion as
to what Jewry's response should be. The quiet, comfortable diaspora existence
is being shaken.
This Tisha B'Av, July 29, the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation's
annual event focuses on one essential response to this difficult situation.
It's not military; it's not political. It's a response in which every
Jew can join, simply by taking a hard look at the disputes and grievances
in their life.
In "A Time to Heal," the renowned
speaker and author, Rabbi Yissachar Frand, explores the topic of machlokes
--- disputes. Rabbi Jonathan Rietti, who has inspired thousands of Jews
through the Gateways Seminars, will also address the topic from his unique
perspective. Both speakers bring new urgency to the message, "A Time to
Heal," as current events make it clear that the time has come for the
Jewish people to stand united. They will inspire and instruct their audience
on how to rise above their grievances -- whether petty or deep -- and
free themselves to reconnect to the people in their lives.
The Foundation, which produces the "Chosen Words" newsletter available on JWR, is an educational organization solely devoted to spreading
awareness of the Torah's laws of interpersonal relationships. Its programs,
publications, video and audio materials bring the concepts of Ahavas Yisrael --
love for one's fellow -- to communities worldwide.
This year's Tisha B'Av Event promises to bring tremendous, immediate benefits
to all those who follow through on its inspiring message by healing disputes
in their own lives.
Taken together, these individual reconciliations can amount to a massive reduction in the negative energy flow within Jewish communities. This negativity is today's version of sinas chinom --- the senseless hatred that, according to the sages, caused G-d to withdraw His protection from Israel and allowed the destruction of the Second Temple.
The tens of thousands of people hearing Rabbi Frand's and Rabbi Rietti's message this Tisha
B'Av represent a monumental opportunity to vastly reduce hatred and divisiveness in our midst.
That, the Sages of the Talmud teach, is the prerequisite for ending the
long era of wandering and suffering that the Temple's destruction ushered
in.
The Torah teaches that when difficulties come, a Jew's job is to examine
his deeds. Today, it's apparent that the time has come to do just that.
But examining is just the beginning. Identifying the flaws and fixing
them is the rest of the job.
This year's Tisha B'Av event is an urgent call to Jews everywhere to uproot baseless hatred, starting within their own hearts.
By Shaindy Appelbaum