This evening, Jews around the world begin the fast of Tisha b’Av. Tisha b’Av commemorates the destruction of the 1st & 2nd Temple in Jerusalem, along w/ the destruction of the Jewish kingdoms & autonomous commonwealths in the Land of Israel. [THREAD] 1/

Many people don’t know that Judeans (Jews) revolted against Roman imperial rule not once, but three times. 2/

During the 1st Jewish-Roman war (66-73 CE), the Romans destroyed the 2nd Temple, along w/ towns & the economic base of the country. The Romans also exiled large numbers of native Judeans, selling thousands into slavery. 3/

This was the beginning of the current Jewish diaspora, & the origin of many diaspora communities - the result of forced exile & systematic dispossession. (Other diaspora communities, such as Babylonian/Iraqi Jews, originated from the earlier Babylonian exile). 4/

The destruction constituted a cataclysmic displacement in Jewish history. Losing the Temple was a cultural catastrophe, as the Temple was the center of Jewish religious & national life. 5/

The 2nd Jewish revolt - known as the Diaspora Revolt b/c it was mostly waged outside Judea by Judean exiles/diaspora communities in Mediterranean provinces of the Roman Empire (though some battles did take place in Judea, notably in Lydda) - was fought from 115-117 CE. 6/

Taking place about 40 years after the end of the 1st Jewish-Roman War, the Diaspora Revolt was a mass Jewish uprising, fueled by outrage at Rome in the aftermath of the 1st Revolt, & inspired by a vision of restored Jewish independence. 7/

The 3rd Jewish-Roman War, aka the Bar Kochba Revolt (after its leader), took place from 132-136. It was yet another attempt to restore Jewish self-rule in Judea. Notwithstanding early victories, & a brief moment of independence, the revolt was eventually crushed by Rome. 8/

Hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed by Roman forces, & untold numbers more died of disease & famine resulting from the war. Hundreds of Judean towns & villages were destroyed. 9/

In the aftermath of the 3rd revolt, Rome systematically depopulated much of Judea of native Judeans, forcing thousands more into slavery. This was the end of Jewish autonomy, & any Jewish political/cultural influence in the affairs of our indigenous homeland, for centuries. 10/

While culturally & demographically significant Jewish communities continued to exist in pockets of the country (notably in Galilean towns like Tiberius, Zippori, & Keisarya), we would henceforth constitute a minority w/in our homeland, ruled by others until the modern period. 11/

Jews were banned from Jerusalem. Large segments of the population were killed, sold into slavery, &/exiled. Jewish sages were killed, &, under Hadrian, the Romans initiated a systematic campaign to erase Jewish national identity & religion. 12/

As part of the campaign to stamp out Jewish identity, along with the Jewish character of the country, the Roman Empire wiped Judea off the map, incorporating it into the Roman province of Syria. 13/

The Romans renamed Judea (Yehudah) - from which Jews (Yehudim) derive our name - Palestine, & the new & enlarged Roman province was called “Syria Palaestina.” 14/

Jews in the south (the region of Jerusalem) suffered most, while Jewish communities in the Galilee (in towns like Tiberius & Zippori) managed to survive, writing important works of Jewish literature that continue to play a central role to Jewish tradition & identity today 15/

In the span of 70 years, Jews fought three large scale uprisings against the most powerful empire in the world, risking much & suffering greatly for the cause of reestablishing independence in our indigenous homeland. 16/

Even after 3 devastating defeats, Jewish communities continued to look hopefully to a future when, they prayed, independent Jewish life would be restored in the Land of Israel/Judea. 17/

In 351-352, the Jews of Roman Palestine again revolted against imperial rule. The revolt was a reaction to state-sanctioned Christian persecution of native Jews - including the destruction of synagogues - & constituted another attempt to disrupt the rule of the Roman Empire. 18/

In 614, Jews again took up arms against Roman rule, joining in alliance with Persian forces invading Palestine. Following victory, Jews established brief autonomous rule in Jerusalem & its environs, but surrendered to Byzantine (Roman) forces in 628 CE. 19/

The following year, Jerusalem’s Christian population massacred the city’s Jews, and many of the survivors fled to Egypt (already home to a diaspora community). A decade later, Muslim Arab armies defeated the Byzantines & conquered the region. 20/

There were significant Jewish revolts against Islamic rule in the 8th & in the 12th centuries, both led by messianic figures w/ the express goal of freeing Israel and returning to Jerusalem (the actual city, & a symbol for the Land of Israel). 21/

The 17th century Ottoman rabbi & messianic pretender, Shabbatai Tzvi, had a very large following among Jews in both Muslim & Christian lands, who fully expected to return to Israel imminently. Many sold their belongings & made concrete plans to prepare for the journey 22/

When Shabbatai Tzvi was arrested by Ottoman authorities & forced to convert to Islam, the failed expectations of immanent redemption were devastating. The episode thrust entire Jewish communities into existential crisis & despair. Many committed suicide. 23/

Finally, with the advent of modern political Zionism in the 19th century, Jews started a movement that successfully led to resettlement in our indigenous homeland, & restoration of political independence. 24/

When Jews mourn the destruction of Jerusalem/loss of Jewish independence, when we declare “next year in Jerusalem” at the Passover Seder, or pray 3 times daily to return to Jerusalem, it isn’t & has never been symbolic. For Jews, religion, culture, & identity are entwined &
25/

in addition to a spiritual tradition, Jewish religion has been the vehicle through which Jewish (Judean) identity & culture were perpetuated in exile, all the while preserving the hope of return. The hope was preserved in religious culture, but the hope was not symbolic. 26/

When Jews speak of our connection to, & longing for, our homeland it is not symbolic. It is not pretty words, or some mystical vision of an other-worldly messianic utopia. And it certainly isn’t a modern invention. 27/

The pages of history are filled with the courage, despair, & hope of real Jews making repeated attempts through the centuries to go home & restore independent life. Jews who sold their homes, who traversed hundreds of miles, who fought, & who worked for that dream. 28/

When Jews fast on Tisha b’Av, when we mourn the destruction of the Temples & loss of sovereignty, we aren’t mourning ancient history. We are commemorating the ongoing struggle to keep the dream alive, & the losses we suffered along the way. 29/

As generations have done before us, Jews will read Eicha (Book of Lamentations), & conclude w/ words of comfort - words of hope & resilience:

השיבנו יהוה אליך ונשובה חדש ימינו כקדם
Take us back, Adonai, to Yourself, And let us come back; Renew our days as of old!