The Jewish Calendar: More Awful News During the Tragic "Three Weeks"

"View of Mikdash from East to West, dominated by the gold facade of the Main Sanctuary (Heichal), as described by Josephus." (Temple model built by Catriel Sugarman)

"View of the Azara as one looks South East. Part of the Achsadra (porticos) which surround the Azara in the Sha'ar HaMayim (Water Gate) with its second story can be seen, as can be the Kiyur (copper laver), and part of the Great Altar where the sacrifices were burnt. In the distance is the East side of the Nicanor Gate."

Ten years ago, Disengagement was added to the list of tragedies that happened during the "Three Weeks" between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av." And now, the already notorious Obama-Nuclear Iran Deal has joined the list.

The Jewish Calendar is an amazing combination of the solar and lunar calendars calculated to keep Jewish Holidays in the correct season. The fact that Jewish Holidays must be in the right season according to the Holy Land, the Land of Israel is an important proof of our eternal connection to the Land. Judaism cannot be fully practiced/observed any other place in the world. Many of the Mitzvot, Torah Commandments by G-d to the Jewish People can only be observed here in the Holy Land.

Not only joyous holidays are connected to the Land, but the days of mourning are, too. It was in the midst of the difficult dry summer heat, thousands of years ago when Jerusalem was attacked and finally our Temple (actually both First and Second Holy Temples hundreds of years apart) were destroyed in this very season in drawn out battles. The destruction was completed on the Tenth of the Month of Av, and this year the fast day, traditionally the Ninth 9th of Av will be on the tenth because of Shabbat. We do not fast on Shabbat except for Yom Kippur, which is the only holiday (or fast day) that can override Shabbat.

Following are a list of tragedies that happened during the Three Weeks (Chabad site.)

The list of tragedies associated with this time period is overwhelming. Tammuz 17, the day which starts these three weeks, is the same day when, in the year 1313 BCE, the tablets containing the Ten Commandments were broken.1On that same day, some 1380 years later, the legions of Rome breached the walls of Jerusalem after a 30-month siege. For three weeks the battle raged in Jerusalem, until the city was vanquished, the Holy Temple destroyed and the Jewish people driven into exile. Thus we entered the state of galut (physical and spiritual displacement) in which we still find ourselves today.2And yet, this was only the beginning.
Three tragic weeks later we arrive at Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av. Predominantly known as the day on which both the first and second Holy Temples were destroyed—the First Temple by the Babylonians in 423 BCE, and the Second Temple by the Romans in 69 CE—the Ninth of Av is also associated with many other horrific events, preceding the destruction of the Temples and continuing until the present.3(By a cruel irony, the day originally chosen by the Israeli government for the expulsion of thousands of men, women and children from their homes in Gush Katif and the other settlements in the Gaza Strip fell within the Three Weeks. But that date was changed due to tremendous pressure from Jews the world over, aghast that the government of Israel would add to the list of our sufferings during this tragic period.)

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

So, it's no real surprise that the Kerry-Obama brokered "deal" with Iran was signed by the so-called free world during the Three Weeks. According to ouir Sages, there are no random coincidences. The timing is always Siyate d'Shmaya, in the Hand of Gd. This "deal" is another sign in the descent of the Western "free" World as we've known it for the past century. There is definitely a steep decline in the power of the United States, and this is further proof.

My Arab customers in the Yafiz Shoe Store, Sha'ar Binyamin usually ask me if the shoes are "originals" or "made in China." My standard reply is that the "originals" are from China, because China today has the strongest economy in the world. They produce everything. That is further proof that the American-European alliance is in a decline.

And someday, not too far off, when all this news about Iran and China and Obama will be history, the Jewish People will reunite and build the Third Holy Temple. And then the Three Weeks, from the 17th of Tammuz until the 9th of Av will be a period of joy and celebration, G-d willing!

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad

Temple Mount Today, Photo by Batya Medad