Dark Days of Tisha B’Av

The 9th of Av, known as Tisha B’Av, stands as the somber peak of the Jewish calendar.

On this day, Jews engage in somber rituals — sitting on the ground, fasting, and recalling the many tragic events that have marked their history: the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Holocaust.

This occasion reminds us of the sorrow woven throughout the Jewish narrative. Yet, this year, those sombre reflections hit closer to home.

Just last week, Tisha B’Av became painfully relevant for Moshe Grünhaus. After spending the morning at the Jewish Center that I lead on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, he started walking home, yarmulke on his head. But he hadn’t walked far — only about 60 meters — when a man attacked him, yelling “Allah Akbar,” a phrase infamously associated with violence.

In swift action, police apprehended the suspect. Alongside charges of assault and attempted murder, the Manhattan district attorney added hate crime charges as well.

Fortunately, Moshe is expected to recover fully. But for a community that has long called this city home, the feeling of safety begins to slip away.

For the first time in living memory, Jewish life in America echoes the tensions seen in Europe. Armed guards, bulletproof glass, and security checkpoints now mark daily life. There’s ongoing anxiety about whether today’s hostility will turn into tomorrow’s violence.

The events on West 86th Street were far from isolated incidents.

Jewish residents are increasingly targeted, with public officials often placing the community in the crossfire of their criticisms against the Israeli government.

It’s disheartening to see Mayor Zoran Mamdani imply that his criticism of Israel doesn’t also tarnish its supporters, particularly Jews.

I’ve heard from parents in my congregation worried about whether their children should wear hats instead of yarmulkes in public. There’s even concern from a dental hygienist whose grandson questioned his Jewish identity after school.

Language holds power — it sets the moral tone and influences what is seen as acceptable both to say and to do.

The mayor has labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal and accused him of genocide, referring to Israel as an apartheid state, and characterizing his supporters in derogatory terms. This ongoing barrage of negativity only serves to embolden those who harbor hatred.

The assault last week serves as a stark reminder that careless political posturing can lead to real-world consequences and violence.

It’s a painful irony; as Rabbis have long taught, the Second Temple’s destruction was attributed to baseless hatred.

Once, neighbors were neighbors. Now, respect has eroded into contempt. Instead of recognizing common humanity, individuals see adversaries. This lesson resonates deeply today.

Internal division often proves just as destructive as external threats, stoked by disdain, fixed disagreements, and caricatures of one another.

Violence rarely starts with a weapon; it often begins with harmful words.

For the Jewish community, Tisha B’Av is about remembering the past. We recount tragedies not out of desire for sorrow, but because memory demands ethical action.

This observance highlights how quickly inflammatory language can transform into bigotry, which in turn leads to dehumanization — and ultimately, violence.

Yet, the mayor seems to use his spotlight to exacerbate tensions at a time when we should seek healing.

He’s encouraging New Yorkers to protest Netanyahu’s visit this September. Yet, has he demonstrated the same urgency in safeguarding Jewish residents who might bear the brunt of the emotions at these protests?

The mayor’s primary responsibility is public safety. Prioritizing the policies of a foreign leader while neglecting the rising tide of anti-Semitism in New York feels disingenuous and puts Jewish lives at risk.

We must urge those with moral conviction not only to reject anti-Semitism but also to challenge rhetoric that can incite violence against Jews before more tragedies occur.

Before the next Tisha B’Av potentially darkens even further, let’s illuminate our city with clear moral vision.