Tisha
B'av's Meaning,
A Media Taboo
by
Ruth and Nadia Matar
WOMEN FOR ISRAEL'S TOMORROW
(WOMEN IN GREEN)
Jerusalem, July 27, 1999
Nowadays, it is exceptional for the media to report in a
favorable way any
news that relates to enhancing pride in Jewish tradition;
likewise,
anything that advances the unity of our People, patriotic or
national
feelings, or Zionist aspirations is "taboo." It
is therefore not
surprising that there was virtually no media coverage of the
annual Tisha
B'Av Walk around the Old City Walls last Wednesday night in
Jerusalem, even
though such a Walk was merely continuing an old established
Jerusalem Custom. 
The Western Wall at night
Courtesy Virtual Jerusalem www.virtual.co.il
and Kotelkam www.kotelkam.com
As one of the news editors of the "Jerusalem Post" put
it: " they were not
sending a reporter because the event was not newsworthy."
What makes the
media's conduct more perplexing is that more than ten thousand
Jews came to
the annual event, and it was clear from past walks that such a
turnout was
anticipated. On the other hand, "heavy" media coverage,(
including a large
picture), was given to a Tel Aviv Tisha B'Av "happening"
at Rabin Square,
where less than 150 people attended.
However, it was quite a moving experience for the 3,000 Jews who
came to
Independence Park to hear the outstanding traditional reading of
the
Biblical Book of Lamentations (Eicha). Before the annual
Walk commenced,
they heard the learned expert on Jewish Customs, Professor Daniel
Sperber,
describe to them the history of the ancient Jerusalem custom of
the Walk
around the Old City Walls. They were inspired by Nadia
Matar, co-leader of
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women In Green), who addressed them.
Her
organization, as a public service, sponsored and arranged for the
entire
evening's excellent program which was done in keeping with the
spirit, mood
and meaning of Tisha B'Av for all of us today. Rav Israel
Ariel, head of
the Temple Museum in the Old City, concluded with incisive words
of Torah
related to our generation's lack of belief in what God requires
of us,
where such lack of faith repeatedly has caused us to sustain
tragedies in
the past.
The Walk then commenced. Many joined after attending their
local
synagogue, where they previously heard the reading of "Eicha."
The Walk
proved to be a great way to unify our People. Religious and
non-religious,
new immigrants, tourists and veteran Israelis, all walked
together. Under
ample police protection, the Walk passed through a neighborhood
of Eastern
Jerusalem where Arabs presently are located, and therefore, for
security
reasons, is rarely visited by Jews. Well over 10,000
observed this ancient
Jerusalem Custom of their forefathers to walk around the Gates of
the Walls
of the Old City in a peaceful, orderly and quiet procession.
The
participants passed the Jaffa Gate, the New Gate, the Damascus
Gate,
Herod's or Flower Gate, Lions' Gate, the sealed Golden Gate, and
ended
their Walk at the Dung Gate.
Since that latter gate is nearest to the Western Wall, many chose
to go
there, and found 50,000 visitors already present. (Throughout
the night of
Tisha B'Av, a half-million Jews usually make their way to the
"Wall.") The
Western Wall is in fact an historic remnant of the destroyed
Second Temple.
The Walkers recalled and shared common Jewish tragedies which had
befallen
their People, and their cherished Jerusalem on this day.
All in all, it
was a significant night to remember!
Ruth and Nadia Matar
WOMEN FOR ISRAEL'S TOMORROW (WOMEN IN GREEN)
P.O.B. 7352, JERUSALEM
Tel. 02-249887 Fax: 02-245380
Registration No. 58-023120-7
IMW is a registered non-profit organization whose major aim is assuring the ethical and fair conduct of the Israeli media.
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