Every year on Tisha B’Av we mourn the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. We recount the tragedies that have befallen our people and grieve not only what was lost in Jerusalem, but the suffering that has followed the Jewish people throughout history. Yet our tradition teaches that mourning alone is not enough. The Sages go further, asking: What failures within ourselves left us spiritually vulnerable?

As antisemitism rises around the world, that question feels as relevant as ever. While we must confront those who hate us, Tisha B’Av also calls us to engage in cheshbon hanefesh — honest self-examination. Are there mitzvot we have quietly set aside because they feel inconvenient, unfamiliar, or simply outside the priorities of our communities?

As someone who has spent time in synagogues across the Jewish spectrum, I have come to admire the strengths of many different Jewish communities while recognizing that each elevates certain mitzvot (commandments) over others, sometimes to the near exclusion of entire categories.  To me, this results in an incomplete embodiment of Torah.

I deeply appreciate the progressive Jewish movements’ contributions to humanist values, Jewish creativity, and academic and scientific advancements.  I deeply appreciate the Orthodox world’s commitment to fostering Torah literacy, holding tight to tradition, and building robust supportive networks within their communities.  

Yet every........

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