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What if the Second Temple Hadn’t Been Destroyed?
Tisha B’Av — the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av — is referred to as the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It marks the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, the first in 586 BCE and the latter in 70 CE.
This Tisha B’Av — 10 months after the October 7 atrocity and the resulting war — finds many Jews worried about our Jewish future. This is true both with respect to the survival of Israel, a country beset by determined enemies, as well as in the context of Jewish life in the Diaspora, with the outburst of antisemitism that has occurred in Europe and North America.
The online Chabad description of Tisha B’Av makes a curious point about the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans. According to the contemporary Jewish-Roman historian Josephus, the Romans would have preferred to leave the Temple standing to reflect on the glory of Rome. Apparently, its destruction was an accident — a rogue act by a Roman soldier, who threw a firebrand into the Temple. Titus, the Roman commander, tried to put out the fire, but was unsuccessful.
The question of how the Jewish world would have evolved if the Temple had not been destroyed has intrigued René Bloch, Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Bern.
To my mind, the destruction of the Temple meant the end of Temple Judaism and the ascendancy of rabbinic Judaism, the rabbis being the successors of the Pharisees. Bloch points to a more nuanced history between the Temple and synagogue ritual and services.
For one thing, the Temple was not a central fixture for Jews in the Diaspora, which existed even then. Moreover, synagogues were an established feature in much of the Jewish world, even in Jerusalem. He adds that Temple practices were changing in any case. For example, animal sacrifices would likely have ended if the temple had continued to exist. Bloch quotes the prophet Isaiah saying, “I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats … learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”
Moreover, scriptural interpretations and commentary, and the idea of using scripture in religious services, were common before the destruction of the Temple. However, much of the Mishna, written after the destruction, deals with details of Temple service as a means of keeping the memory of the Temple alive.
Without the destruction of the Temple, there would be no Mishna or Gemara and no Talmud, at least not in the form that we are familiar with today. Bloch writes, “If rabbinic Judaism had not emerged or had manifested itself in a much less consequential form, Judaism’s long-term development would have been profoundly affected.”
Bloch also points out that if the Temple was not destroyed, Christianity today would be very different as well, because the destruction of the Temple is central to the Christian concept of supersession, wherein Christianity is seen as the successor to Judaism. To early Christians, the Temple’s destruction confirmed God’s displeasure with the Jewish people for their rejection of Jesus Christ. Without its destruction, the theological underpinnings of Christianity and Judaism might have been more difficult to separate.
The Jewish defeat by the Romans took place irrespective of whether or not the Temple survived. Josephus’ writings point a finger at Jewish disunity and infighting. We do not know if a unified Jewish front would have made a difference. We do know that by the time of the The Bar-Kochba Revolt just 65 years later (132-136 CE), the Jews had learned their lesson. Nevertheless, even though the Jews fought as a united force, this war also resulted in defeat. The only difference was that the Roman victory cost them more.
There are those who worry that history will repeat itself, and that disunity and internal disputes will jeopardize Jewish survival. Perhaps. However, at this point, the important lesson from Jewish history is that a small Jewish State needs the backing of a great power.
Jacob Sivak, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, is a retired professor, University of Waterloo.
The post What if the Second Temple Hadn’t Been Destroyed? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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‘Explode Everything’: Jordanian Charged for Threats to Bomb US Businesses Perceived to Support Israel
An American flag waves outside the US Department of Justice Building in Washington, DC. Photo: Al Drago via Reuters Connect
US law enforcement officials have arrested and charged a Jordanian national who allegedly attacked an energy facility and threatened to bomb businesses that he deemed supportive of Israel, the Justice Department announced on Thursday.
According to federal prosecutors, the alleged crimes of Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, 43, began earlier this summer, with his vandalizing small businesses in Orange County, Florida, and leaving “Warning Letters” addressed to the US government in which he vowed to “destroy or explode everything here in America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state of Israel.”
As other anti-Israel agitators have done, Hnaihen concealed his face with a mask, which complicated efforts to identify him.
In late June, according to the Justice Department, Hnaihen breached an energy facility in Wedgefield, Florida, where he “smashed” scores of solar panels and damaged other “electronic equipment.” The spree of infrastructure sabotage lasted “for hours,” the department added, destroying $700,000 worth of technology. In his last alleged act, in early July, Hnaihen left a final warning letter at an industrial propane gas distribution depot located in the city of Orlando. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department arrested him on July 11.
“We allege that the defendant threatened to carry out hate-fueled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement on Thursday. “Such acts and threats of violence, whether they are targeting the places that Americans frequent every day or our country’s critical infrastructure, are extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by the Justice Department.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray added,” Violence and destruction of property to threaten and intimidate others will never be tolerated. The FBI and our partners will work together to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
Hnaihen faces five charges, four related to his threatening letters and one for wreaking havoc on the energy facility, crimes for which he may, if convicted, spend the rest of his natural life in prison. His “Warning Letters” alone, each of which carries 10-year maximum sentences, would keep him behind bars for 40 years, at which time he will be an octogenarian. His fifth charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The 43 year old is not the first person whose alleged anti-Israel or anti-Jewish actions prompted the involvement of the federal government.
On Monday, the Justice Department announced that former Cornell University student Patrick Dai, who threatened to perpetrate heinous crimes against members of the school’s Jewish community after Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
Last October, Dai raised the possibility of antisemitic violence at Cornell when he posted several statements calling for murdering Jews and raping Jewish women on a popular social media forum. In addition to threatening the lives of Cornell’s 3,500 Jewish students, who are 22 percent of the school’s student population, the posts threatened an attack on a campus kosher dining hall — named 104West — affiliated with the Steven K. And Winifred A. Grinspoon Hillel Center.
“Gonna shoot up 104 west… Allahu akbar! from the river to the sea, palestine will be free! glory to hamas! liberation by any means necessary!” one of his posts said. Another read, “If I see a pig male jew i will stab you and slit your throat. if i see another pig female jew i will drag you away and rape you and throw you off a cliff. if i see another pig baby jew i will behead you in front of your parents [sic].”
The Justice Department said Dai also vowed to “bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig Jews.”
“The defendant’s threats terrorized the Cornell campus community for days and shattered the community’s sense of safety,” Carla Freedman, US attorney for the Northern District of New York, said in a statement on Monday. “My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute threats and acts of violence motivated by antisemitism and hatred of any kind.”
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.
The post ‘Explode Everything’: Jordanian Charged for Threats to Bomb US Businesses Perceived to Support Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Israeli father uses his daughter’s experiences with cancer to help other families
Fifteen years ago, Oded Grinstein’s infant daughter Shani was diagnosed with a rare cancer. The doctors in Israel were world-class, and the facilities were state-of-the-art, but there was a lack of experience within the medical system for dealing with this particular cancer. Grinstein and his wife found a doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center […]
The post Israeli father uses his daughter’s experiences with cancer to help other families appeared first on The Canadian Jewish News.
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Connecticut State Rep. Who Attacked Primary Opponent for Being Jewish Loses by More Than 25 Points
Connecticut state representative Anabel Figueroa. Photo: Screenshot
Connecticut State Rep. Anabel Figueroa lost overwhelmingly in her Democratic primary this week after attacking her opponent for being Jewish.
Figueroa, who was the incumbent in the race and represents parts of the city of Stamford, lost 62.6 percent to 37.4 percent on Tuesday to her Democratic primary challenger Jonathan Jacobson, who is Jewish.
Jacobson’s ethnic background became an issue in the race after Figueroa attacked him for being Jewish.
“The Hispanic vote is going to determine on Aug. 13 who will win to represent or who will continue to represent you,” Figueroa said in a Spanish-language interview filmed on July 28. “We cannot permit a person who is of Jewish origin, of Jewish origin, to represent our community. It’s impossible.”
The comments were met with widespread backlash.
The Stamford Democratic City Committee (DCC) called on Figueroa to resign.
“The use of this blatant antisemitic and anti-democratic language is abhorrent, unacceptable, and contrary to our shared values as Democrats,” it wrote in a statement. “The sentiments expressed by Representative Figueroa in that video contradict the statement she issued yesterday in response to the antisemitic Facebook post shared by a DCC member, who is also one of her supporters.”
One of Figueroa’s supporters, who is also a member of the Stamford DCC, had reportedly made antisemitic remarks about Jacobson as well.
The statement concluded, “This shameful behavior not only demonstrates a lack of integrity and character but makes Anabel Figueroa unfit to serve in office, and we call on her to resign immediately as a member of the Stamford Democratic City Committee.”
The Connecticut branch of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) wrote on X/Twitter: “Rep Figueroa’s statement was outrageous and her apology equivocal. To accuse Jewish politicians of being unable to represent all constituents is unacceptable.”
In response to the condemnations, Figueroa issued an apology.
“I am deeply sorry to those in the Stamford and Jewish communities that I have offended,” she said. “I have multiple Jewish people working on my campaign, and antisemitism has no place in Stamford — again, I apologize.”
She then explained the original sentiment behind her comments.
“My message is that we need leaders who represent our districts. There is almost no Latino representation in Hartford, and I am currently the only Latina State Representative in Southern Connecticut,” Figueroa said. “There is a strong Latino community in the 148th district, and I will ensure their voice is at the table and never leaves it. This has nothing to do with religion, and as a bilingual speaker, I misspoke when describing my opponent’s background. I am deeply and sincerely sorry.”
Jacobson said the real reason he won the election was not due to her comments, but rather to policy differences.
“Ultimately, her hate, that’s not what lost her the election; her hate is not what won me the election,” he said, according to the New York Times.
The post Connecticut State Rep. Who Attacked Primary Opponent for Being Jewish Loses by More Than 25 Points first appeared on Algemeiner.com.