Tisha b'Av - remembering the destruction of the Temple

[cerulean]

A resource and explanation (with an Orthodox and traditional orientation):

http://www.aish.com/holidays/tisha_bav_and_the_3_weeks/default.asp

Quote from the site:
The Three Weeks - from Thursday, June 27, through Thursday, July 18, 2002 - are a period of national mourning, during which we focus on disasters that befell the Jewish People throughout history.

Not that anyone would forget, but it's worth mentioning that the events in the time period around the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE (AD) by the Romans led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Jews, a huge number by any standards and in particular relative to the total population at the time.

Josephus, the famed Jewish historian, recorded all of these events in his work, The Antiquities of the Jews :
http://promo.net/cgi-promo/pg/t9.cgi?entry=2848&full=yes&ftpsite=ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/

The Temple Mount is obviously still a hugely important issue today. The Western Wall (often known as the Wailing Wall) is a section of the supporting wall still left from the temple site. The Dome of the Rock mosque is built on top of the temple ruins.

Please add more sites and information related to this subject. I'd really like to see some strong historical ones.

[Batman]

nice picture and short explanation (http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/The_Temple.html)


the unnatural water leak (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/Full&cid=1025787716760)


live wall webcam (http://www.aish.com/wallcam/)

Josephus attempting to answer Why the Almighty Caused Jerusalem and His Temple to be Destroyed
http://members.aol.com/FLJOSEPHUS/causeofDestruct.htm

[Batman]

Some points of view on destruction and rebuilding:



Additional info:after 3,000 years, if I forget Jerusalem... (http://www.aish.com/wallcam/After_3000_Years.asp)

"...gossip, the Talmud says, is the single greatest source of our long, painful exile. To the extent we tolerate abusive talk is the extent we contribute to our exile. But we can break the cycle if we so choose. "

2nd Holy Temple with floor plan and explantions and pop up details (http://www.moshiach.com/temple/classic/index.asp)

[cerulean]

Jul. 18, 2002
Poll: 53% of Israelis want third temple
By HAIM SHAPIRO
Over half of all Israeli Jews would like to see the building of a third temple, according to a survey commissioned by the Reform movement's Israel Religious Action Center.
The survey was commissioned for Tisha Be'av, which falls today. The fast, which marks the destruction of the First and Second Temples, ends tonight at 8:16 p.m. ...
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1025787825718

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Of course this type of poll in particular is suspect, since it does not get into the details of the rather drastic things that would likely have to happen in order for such a temple were to be built.

Of immediate secular (and religious) concern is that with Palestinian control of the Temple Mount, there has been archeological destruction of the area. Many fear that there are attempts to wipe out all evidence that the temple was there in the first place. Arafat has been quoted as saying the temple was actually in Nablus, not Jerusalem. Of course the point of this lie is to be able to then say that Jews have no claim to Jerusalem.

http://www.gamla.org.il/english/temple/news.htm
http://www.jewishmag.com/42mag/templemount/templemount.htm

[Oh Jerusalem]

Tisha b'Av, the 9th of the Jewish month of Av, is know as an omonous date in Jewish history.

Those of us here with a religious background are aware of the potential calamity this specific day invites or signifies to the Jewish people. Here are some examples (http://www.aish.com/tishabav/tishabavdefault/Tisha_BAv_-_The_Ninth_of_Av.asp) (not all) of occurences that have fallen out on this day.

Next year, on August 15, 2005, according to Israel's National Security Council document, the IDF will declare the entire Gush Katif area a "closed military zone." During this period, only residents, suppliers and media will be allowed to enter. This situation will continue until Sept. 1, when the security forces are scheduled to begin the forced expulsion of the Jews from Gaza.

The day prior to August 15 next year is the 9th of Av, 5765.

May we be deservant of redemption beforehand.