This week is Rosh Chodesh  Menachem Av.

In several weeks, we will be observing Tisha B’Av – a sad and solemn day of fasting and mourning to remember the destruction of our holy Beit HaMikdash

The profound sadness, deep pain and anguish of Tisha B’Av is difficult to bare under normal circumstances. It is even more so today when it is magnified by the harsh significance of today’s total disregard and collapse of achdut bnai yisrael and existential misfortunes which Israel has experienced over the past several years.

One has only to observe the proliferation of articles, divrei torah and posts on this topic to truly understand the profound significance of these two realities – commemorating the tragedy of Tisha B’av and today’s total lack and disregard for achdut. It is also occurring at a time when Israel is in great peril and in the midst of an existential nuclear threat by Tehran and its proxies, including Hezbollah.

As I reflect on the juxtaposition of Tisha B’av, the lack of achdut and the recent hostilities between Israel and Iran and its proxies, I tremble at the thought that maybe there is some sort of causal relationship between these horrifying events.

I have always been taught to never automatically assume causal relationships between events in Jewish history unless indicated by specific meforshim and/or commentators.

Tragedies befall a people because it is the will of HaShem. Plain and simple. Having said that, it is also well known and an accepted notion that the destruction of the two Batei Mikdash in Jerusalem were the result of avodah zara, immorality and sinat........

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