Why Is History Such A Hard Subject?

This Saturday night and Sunday we will observe Tisha B’Av. In last week’s column I gave you some of the background for this day. Tisha B’Av is a fast day recalling, among other events, the destruction of the First Temple in 586BCE and the Second Temple in 70CE. As I explained last week, these were national catastrophes that changed the course of Jewish history and theology in many ways. As we prepare for this day I reflect on a larger question: why do we have such a hard time remembering and understanding history? I take my cues from reports I have heard on the grasp that our young people have on history. Many American children fail questions about American history. Knowledge of such important events like the American Revolution or the Civil War has become too esoteric for many students (and teachers) to worry about. I wonder if other countries have the same problem when it comes to their citizens grasping the history of their own country. It also makes me ask why. Perhaps part of the problem lies in our attitude about the past. That attitude seems to be that only the present matters. “The past” is like a ball of yarn- it is all rolled together and hard to perceive the different lines that wind around each other. I think it is also a part of our modern “vanity.” We think that we are so advanced, so far removed from the mistakes and failures of the past that remembering history is not necessary. The only thing that matters is what we do today. Such an attitude reflects such a superficial understanding of humanity that it betrays the naiveté of its proponents. It is true that we are more technically advanced than our ancestors- even our grandparents for that matter. It is true that science has reshaped the way we live but it has not reshaped the human heart. As a student of history I try to never lose sight of the fact that human beings have not changed- our tools and our toys have changed but the essence of what it means to be human remains constant. Regardless of our new found technology, we still long to connect to each other and to that which is greater than all of us. Sometimes I think if we could remember how much we have in common with our ancestors we would understand ourselves much better. Tisha B’Av is not just about the Temples. It is not just an ancient part of our history. It is about the way our people reacted to and overcame times of crisis and spiritual confusion. These are lessons that would serve us well right now. Our civilization, both religious and secular, face great challenges. Some think the challenge might be too great, that we have arrived at “the point of no return.” The study of history, especially Jewish history, can teach us much. The human spirit is what created triumph and continuity in the face of catastrophe. That’s why it is essential that Jews understand the Jewish past. It is also something needed by all of our neighbors- it is not technology that overcomes crisis. All of the problems that may face us today have been experienced before, what remains to be seen is if we can have the faith, courage, and will that our ancestors had.

Iran's Latest Attack

It is old news. Ahmadinejad condemns Israel, calling it a “cancer” that must be destroyed. We have grown so used to anti-Israel rants coming from Iran that maybe we don’t pay attention any more- another day, another call to wipe Israel off the map. Maybe we have even grown weary of hearing about Iran’s “possible” nuclear program or maybe we have just convinced ourselves that Israel and/or America will take action before it is too late. We have come to depend on the fact that computer viruses and secret bunker-bombs will somehow avert an all out attack on Israel. We have even come to dismiss Iran’s threats to attack “the west.” I understand that we grow weary being in a state of constant alert but in situations like this it is required. I bring to your attention the latest version of Iran’s attack on Israel because it should concern us in an entirely different way. At a conference on drug use in Iran (yes, a big problem) Mohammed Reza Rahimi, Iran’s first vice-president offered a reason for worldwide drug use- the Talmud is to blame. He explained that the Talmud teaches that Jews can do anything to make money and so it is obvious that they are behind the international drug trade. As ridiculous as this sounds representatives of other countries attending the conference sat there and listened to it. Worse than that, the UN often praises Iran for their “war on drugs.” No, it does not surprise me that an Iranian official would make such a claim, nor does it surprise me that other people would sit there and listen as if this charge could be serious. What does get my attention is this- blaming the Talmud for drug use is not just an implicit attack on Israel. It is an explicit attack on Judaism as a religion. It moves the question from politics to culture and religion. It means that there can be no doubt that when Iranians call for the destruction of Israel they have another vision in mind as well- the destruction of all Jews. While Ahmadinejad may talk of destroying Israel, he is really thinking that Iran will succeed in wiping out Judaism. That should make us think twice. If Iran did have the means would it attack Israel? We have to believe it would. (Luckily Germany has provided Israel with some submarines that are a serious deterrent. With these German subs Israel can strike back no matter what happens on land.) As Jews this makes us nervous for Israel but we should also be nervous and alert for ourselves. In the Iranian worldview Jews are to be killed wherever they are because they are Jews. We have to understand that Iran seeks to fulfill Hitler’s vision- a world without Jews. That may be offensive to some but it is the simplest statement of the truth. Don’t ignore the situation. Urge our officials to support Israel. Urge our officials to combat Iran on every front possible. As Jews we have learned that ignoring our enemies does not make them go away. If we are not for ourselves who will be?