August, 2024, Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
August is a month named for good tidings. Many positive words, such as “respected” or “illustrious” are related to “august”. But this August has been a difficult month with a lot of fears and tears over current circumstances in Israel. As I reflect upon all this, I see how Tisha’a b’Av (of August 13) became a central feature of August 2024.
Tisha’a b’Av is not a Biblical holiday, yet its roots are in the Bible. Moses had sent spies to see the Land. On that day and month, the Ninth of Av, the twelve spies came back from the Land they had spied on. Ten of the men brought back a bad report displeasing God. The date is synonymous with defeat and mourning. As a consequence, the Israelites had to set on a continuing long desert journey.
it just so happens that later in Jewish history many tragic events befell on that very date.
We recall the destruction of the First Temple and the Babylonian exile. In Psalm 137 we see this event in the context of tears: “By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down, and we wept when we remembered Zion.” Lamentations describe the horrors of destruction. Lamentation says that the “roads to Zion mourn.” Reted, Zion was lonely and miserable.
We recall the destruction of the Second Temple and the long years of Diaspora (Greek for dispersion). In 70 AD Roman forces succeeded in attacking Jerusalem, in breaching its walls and then in entering the Holy of Holies. Historian Josephus Flavius (born 37 AD) related to us that this happened on a Shabbat. According to him, Jewish men were defending the Holy of Holies with their lives. Roman soldiers rushed to destroy it, as if pushed by a supernatural force. Romans took the defeated Jews to Rome as slaves. They were scattered to the four corners of the earth.
Tragic events then took place throughout the Diaspora. Notably the horrific Expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 fell on Tisha’a b’Av.
This August, I am writing in a tense political atmosphere.
This month the world has been waiting to see what would happen to the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Negotiations, rumors, and pained faces are all featured in the news daily. By their empty dinner table seats desperate families cry for the world to see and act. Nothing knew has emerged at the time of this writing.
This month the world has been waiting to see if Iran would attack Israel. A notable Hamas terrorist leader Ismail Haniyeh (1962-2024) was assassinated in Teheran, Iran on July 31. The assassination was related to his role in Hamas and especially the October 7 massacre of Israelis. Following the assassination Iran swore revenge. Fearful of an expanding regional war, Western Powers, mainly the EU and the USA, begged Iran not to attack.
When estimating the current threat, we need to remember that for years the Islamic Republic of Iran has been threatening Israel with annihilation. Iran’s nuclear program has been growing. Threats are real. It is unlikely that Iran feels much need to listen to the Western Powers. In its wars, Iran uses proxies, such as the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon. Rockets from Lebanon have landed in Israel throughout the conflict. Hezbollah is armed and financed by Iran.
Related to our topic, Iran has for years denied the Holocaust. In 2006 an international conference took place in Teheran. This was a Conference of Holocaust deniers. The purpose was not just to distort history but to delegitimize Israel. What makes this so interesting is that more Westerners participated in the event than people from countries around Iran. The target audience were the Westerners. This is because the theme of Holocaust denial is connected to Iran seeking opportunities to campaign internationally for complete destruction of Israel.
August 2024 has been a month of waiting. Tisha’a b’Av in Israel was a National Day of Mourning. We need to understand that these current events are our business too. August really should have us thinking and praying.
But should we lose hope?
Now, bringing a bad report is easy. And the truth is that no one knows what will be tomorrow. And yet, amid all the negative events, we need to remember that there is always a good report with God. With just few days of August remaining, we need to recall this hope.
We have the gift of prayer. We have the gift of speaking up. We need to speak up for a very simple reason: we are alive at this time in human history.
And God still has the world at His beck and call.
