Opponents of Israel’s Judicial Overhaul See Parallels in Tisha B’Av

Opponents of Israel’s judicial overhaul see parallels in Tisha B’Av, this week’s Jewish day of mourning. As the fast day approaches, some protesters of the recent law weakening the judiciary fear that it could lead to another catastrophe. Some critics of the Israeli government's judiciary overhaul see parallels in ancient calamities, as rabbinic tradition says that collapse of Jewish sovereignty resulted as much from infighting as from external attacks — if not more so.

The Symbolism of Shisha B’Av

The image started circulating almost as soon as the Israeli government finished voting to approve a divisive piece of legislation. “Shisha B’Av,” it said in white Hebrew letters against a black background – Hebrew for the Sixth of Av. That was the Hebrew date on Monday, when right-wing lawmakers signed off on a law limiting the judiciary’s ability to review government decisions. But the image, which spread widely within the sweeping movement protesting the legislation, wasn’t just marking the calendar. It was also invoking the fast day of Tisha B’Av, the Ninth of Av, which mourns the destruction of the ancient Holy Temples in Jerusalem.

“No one is missing the symbolism on the left,” said David Selis, a researcher of Jewish text and images in Israeli protests. Jewish leaders in Israel and the United States are invoking the fast day in their statements, and special events are being held to observe the day of mourning in public ways. “We are now a little over 24 hours away from Tisha B’Av, the day when we mark the loss of our sovereignty 2,000 years ago, due to internal fighting,” said Julie Platt, chair of the Jewish Federations of North America. She added, “The parallels to today are frightening.”

Historical Calamities and Modern Fears

According to Jewish tradition, a string of calamities have befallen the Jews on the Ninth of Av. Both known as “hurban habayit” in Hebrew, the destruction of the First Temple and the Second Temple are the most prominent in a list of events cited by Talmudic rabbis in prescribing a day of fasting and mourning rituals. In Israel, even in the most secular spaces, people are referring to what the government is doing as “hurban habayit.”

Those who oppose the government say its aggressive bid to sap Israel’s judiciary of its independence does threaten the country’s security and stability in the future. Reportedly beginning with former Defense Minister Moshe Dayan 50 years ago, Israelis have often referred to the modern state of Israel as a “Third Temple,” or third Jewish commonwealth. The following table highlights historical tragedies associated with Tisha B’Av as referenced in Jewish tradition and history:

Historical Event	Date / Context
Destruction of the First Temple	586 BCE
Destruction of the Second Temple	70 CE
Expulsion of the Jews from England	1290
Expulsion of the Jews from France	1306
Expulsion of the Jews from Spain	1492
Beginning of the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto	The Holocaust
Bombing at the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires	1994

A Call for Reflection

In the hours after the Knesset vote, some suggested turning Tisha B’Av into a focal point for Jews mourning what they see as a catastrophic development in Israeli politics. Yedidia Stern, president of the Jewish People Policy Institute, stated: “I see radicalization right now on the street. And I really hope we’ll be able to contain it…. Let’s hope Tisha B’Av will be only a memory, not a reality for us.”