THREE WEEKS OF MOURNING IN JUDAISM

Three weeks of sadness, purposeful sadness, mourning, before the Jewish Holy Day of Tisha Ba'av, the date of the destruction of both the first and second Temples of Jerusalem that stood in the place of  the mosque that is there now.

What do we have to be sad about? Is it appropriate to have sadness, to allow, even assist other people to be sad. How can we encourage this sadness without impeding on others to join you, if they are not of the same religion as you. Can we be proud of having the ability to become sad? Yes, there is such a thing as a "Good Cry."

There will be natural disappointments occurring during this 3 week period, accept them, delve into them with a full strength of emotions, ask for help. Who to ask from to help you, easy question, go straight to the Lord Our G-D.

We can alter our mood to one of sadness: things to do to encourage yourself to feel sadness: (e.g. one thing we can do is not anoint ourselves, this means no deodorant, no perfumed lotions, scarcity on daily showers, infrequency of teeth brushing. Or to wear black clothing, black skirt or pants and a black top. To not wear leather shoes or use a leather belt or purse or wallet. To not compulsively brush our hair. To not listen to music, to not indulge in parties, to not cut ones' hair or shave your beard. To visit the cemetery where your family is buried. To withhold on tasty flavorful foods, instead to eat blandly. To keep your fingernails shortly trimmed. To feel the hot sun, to warm yourself, to read a book of sadness, to make sure you indulge in the study of Torah for hours everyday.)

How can we feel sad and be proud we are sad? To view sadness as a righteousness when it is called for, not as a sickness. Can we tolerate the sadness of others without becoming impatient? We can use our loving-kindness and compassion to help them with this sadness because we too are feeling it ourselves. A mutual bonding will occur.

To be sure, however, that you  begin each day with joy, and then to turn it into sadness as the day goes by and you pray. To be sure to be joyful when you start each day, wash your hands right next to your bed first thing in the morning, keeping a cup of water on your nightstand to wash. Before you reach your feet to the ground each morning, begin it with this hand washing and therefore achieve strong joyousness.

It is our L-rd Adonai Who is causing us to feel this appropriate joyousness becoming sadness, thoughtfully, so we remember and honor our Family and Torah Prophets and our Beloved Two Temples so we can plan for the building of a Third Temple in our future, and G-D says this is GOOD.