Comments on: 9 of Av http://www.cecisibony.com/2008/08/9-of-av/ Through North Africa and the Middle East Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:44:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ceci http://www.cecisibony.com/2008/08/9-of-av/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Ceci Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:10:31 +0000 http://www.cecisibony.com/?p=25#comment-46 Hey everyone, My grandma sent me an email with an interesting perspective on our little discussion on the 9th of Av. She wasn't sure how to comment, so I am copying her email here... My take on the Moroccans great respect for Tisha B'Av is that the Spanish Inquisition (1492) occurred on that date--deliberately. The Church hierarchy knew about its significance. Many Moroccan Jews originate from Spain. Custom probably reinforced the maintaining of the tradition of complete observance. Orthodox Jews in the USA also observe the day to the letter: no planning of weddings; no haircuts; no shaving; fasting on the day; eating of dairy products in lieu of meat. Some Jews, mainly Israelis, pay less attention because they feel that the establishment of the State of Israel is the redemption spoken about. Incidentally, the English expulsion of 1290 and the Portuguese expulsion in 1515 also took place on Tisha B'Av (not coincidentally). Jews usually fear terrorism attacks on that date because they know that the Moslems are aware of its significance. Hey everyone,

My grandma sent me an email with an interesting perspective on our little discussion on the 9th of Av. She wasn’t sure how to comment, so I am copying her email here…

My take on the Moroccans great respect for Tisha B’Av is that the Spanish Inquisition (1492) occurred on that date–deliberately. The Church hierarchy knew about its significance. Many Moroccan Jews originate from Spain. Custom probably reinforced the maintaining of the tradition of complete observance. Orthodox Jews in the USA also observe the day to the letter: no planning of weddings; no haircuts; no shaving; fasting on the day; eating of dairy products in lieu of meat.

Some Jews, mainly Israelis, pay less attention because they feel that the establishment of the State of Israel is the redemption spoken about.

Incidentally, the English expulsion of 1290 and the Portuguese expulsion in 1515 also took place on Tisha B’Av (not coincidentally).

Jews usually fear terrorism attacks on that date because they know that the Moslems are aware of its significance.

]]> By: David Levy http://www.cecisibony.com/2008/08/9-of-av/comment-page-1/#comment-42 David Levy Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:44:09 +0000 http://www.cecisibony.com/?p=25#comment-42 It seems you are having an amazing adventure. Keep the posts and pics coming. RD It seems you are having an amazing adventure. Keep the posts and pics coming.

RD

]]> By: your other sister bitch http://www.cecisibony.com/2008/08/9-of-av/comment-page-1/#comment-38 your other sister bitch Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:44:40 +0000 http://www.cecisibony.com/?p=25#comment-38 sooo the sibonys head to moracco..so jealous i was gonna come but they needed me in egypt have fun you crazy kids miss youuuu ce!! p.s- bbm me..ooh wait im the only person on the planet without a ballberry so text me? love yaa sooo the sibonys head to moracco..so jealous i was gonna come but they needed me in egypt have fun you crazy kids miss youuuu ce!!

p.s- bbm me..ooh wait im the only person on the planet without a ballberry so text me? love yaa

]]> By: maggie http://www.cecisibony.com/2008/08/9-of-av/comment-page-1/#comment-37 maggie Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:10:12 +0000 http://www.cecisibony.com/?p=25#comment-37 hey ceci, i want to tell you how much i enjoyed reading all your um... essays???? or blog?? oh,i dont know what its called, but u know what i mean.alot to reflect on and ponder. im so proud of you and wish you lots of fun. its all so fascinating. keep up the great work and ill keep checking up on you. kisses hey ceci,
i want to tell you how much i enjoyed reading all your um… essays???? or blog?? oh,i dont know what its called, but u know what i mean.alot to reflect on and ponder. im so proud of you and wish you lots of fun. its all so fascinating. keep up the great work and ill keep checking up on you. kisses

]]> By: Mommy http://www.cecisibony.com/2008/08/9-of-av/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Mommy Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:59:11 +0000 http://www.cecisibony.com/?p=25#comment-35 What an interesting aspect of Jewish life. Hopefully once Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur come, it will give you another prospective on Jewish holidays and Jewish life in Morocco. And maybe you will even be able to find out the answers to your questions. Love you and miss you What an interesting aspect of Jewish life. Hopefully once Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur come, it will give you another prospective on Jewish holidays and Jewish life in Morocco. And maybe you will even be able to find out the answers to your questions. Love you and miss you

]]> By: Ben Suarato http://www.cecisibony.com/2008/08/9-of-av/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Ben Suarato Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:12:25 +0000 http://www.cecisibony.com/?p=25#comment-32 One summer when I was growing up, I remember arguing with my friends over whether or not to fast on Tisha b'Av. My friend Dave said he thought it was pointless since we've reestablished the Jewish state and recaptured Jerusalem. He said Tisha b'Av marked an exile that no longer required remembering. Its like the Zionist story of the man who stands up and says he's opposed to teaching Jewish history, since there's no history to teach, its a story of a people without a home, but now that there's a state, children should just go out and live. At the time, I found it compelling. I was safe as an American Jew, and Israel is firmly established. So why continue to mourn a situation which no longer exists? So I don't think its that the Holocaust has replaced Tisha b'Av, but I think we have forgotten the initial purpose of it. Shattering a glass at a wedding is supposed to remind you of the destruction of the Temple as well, and yet here it is a cue for applause. While I certainly know those who won't shave or eat meat in the days preceding this holiday, such a community-wide willingness to hold off on going to bars is fascinating. However, as you said, they have felt protected by their king, so what is the significance of Tisha b'Av to them? For us, it has faded in the face of a new, stronger, post-exilic Jewish history. Are the Moroccans still waiting to realize the redemption promised by the establishment of a Jewish state? One summer when I was growing up, I remember arguing with my friends over whether or not to fast on Tisha b’Av. My friend Dave said he thought it was pointless since we’ve reestablished the Jewish state and recaptured Jerusalem. He said Tisha b’Av marked an exile that no longer required remembering. Its like the Zionist story of the man who stands up and says he’s opposed to teaching Jewish history, since there’s no history to teach, its a story of a people without a home, but now that there’s a state, children should just go out and live. At the time, I found it compelling. I was safe as an American Jew, and Israel is firmly established. So why continue to mourn a situation which no longer exists? So I don’t think its that the Holocaust has replaced Tisha b’Av, but I think we have forgotten the initial purpose of it. Shattering a glass at a wedding is supposed to remind you of the destruction of the Temple as well, and yet here it is a cue for applause. While I certainly know those who won’t shave or eat meat in the days preceding this holiday, such a community-wide willingness to hold off on going to bars is fascinating. However, as you said, they have felt protected by their king, so what is the significance of Tisha b’Av to them? For us, it has faded in the face of a new, stronger, post-exilic Jewish history. Are the Moroccans still waiting to realize the redemption promised by the establishment of a Jewish state?

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