These Three Weeks

These Nine Days: We, the Jewish People, have now entered the month of Av. This coming Sabbath is called the Sabbath of Vision (שׁבּת חזון) because of its Haftorah, the third in the series of three Haftorot of Affliction leading us to Tisha b"Av, the Black Fast on the ninth day of the month.

It is the custom in most synagogues to announce the month of Av as "Menachem Av" - literally, "Consoling The Father." The Talmud says, "When the month of Av begins, we reduce our joy." During the Nine Days we observe a greater level of mourning than during the Three Weeks. 

Our sages חז״ל tell us:

One reason for the destruction of the
Second Temple was sinat hinam - causeless hatred;
and one thing that can bring the Messianic Age
is ahavat hinam - causeless love.

Until those glorious days that we long for, we mourn - for the way things are, for the way things might have been. 

And until those glorious days that we long for, perhaps we can learn something important - about ahavat hinam - from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Of all the great moments for America in this Olympics, none was greater than this show of sportsmanship. Simone Biles’ comeback and brilliance was breathtaking, but this is what should make us most proud of her.

So wrote Jon "Bowser" Bauman on X. (Yes, Abq Jew follows the Sha Na Na and Columbia University alum on social media.)

Even better is what Nancy Armour wrote for USA Today.

Simone Biles’ greatness is summed up in one photo — but not the one you think

PARIS — The greatness of Simone Biles can be summed up in one photo.

It’s not of her with her many, many medals. Or of a score that reflects another dominant performance. It doesn’t show her soaring high above the vault. 

It’s of Biles and Jordan Chiles, bowing down to new Olympic floor champion Rebeca Andrade as the Brazilian steps onto the medals podium at the 2024 Paris Games.

“I love Rebeca. She’s absolutely amazing,” Biles said Monday afternoon. “Jordan was like, 'Should we bow to her?’ And I was like, 'Absolutely.’ It was just the right thing to do.”

Yes, but not many athletes — not many people — would be big enough to celebrate someone else’s success in the wake of their own disappointment. Or mature enough to do it so genuinely. 

Not many would be generous enough to show the grace that so often isn’t extended to her.

Biles is the greatest gymnast of all time, and the surprising results Monday do nothing to change that. But she’s an equally good human, continuing to dole out lessons on how to do life.

Be kind.

Celebrate success, both yours and that of others. 

May we be comforted among the mourners 
of Zion and Jerusalem.