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.