On Sunday, Jews throughout the world observed the Fast of Tammuz, which commemorates the destruction of the walls surrounding Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E. It begins a three-week period of introspection, culminating in Tisha B’Av, a fast day that mourns the destruction of the Second Temple.
Our ancestors taught that the Second Temple fell because our people could not overcome their inclination toward sinat chinam—senseless hatred expressed through disrespect, distrust, and cruelty shown toward those who hold divergent socio-religious and political beliefs. The preeminent lesson of the Temple’s destruction, according to the sages, is that we must work with our fellow Jews to find solutions to our problems and treat everyone with the respect and dignity that human souls deserve.
In a civilization that appears to be growing increasingly fractured and dismissive of the needs and opinions of others, combating the scourge of sinat chinam can seem like an impossible task. However, as Rabbi Tarfon famously taught, we need not complete the task. We need only keep at it.
We can begin by slowing down and recognizing those moments when we often bring sinat chinam into the world. When we pause an extra second before we beep our car horns, or boorishly bemoan the performance of staff at a restaurant or a grocery store, or hastily type out a disrespectful message over email or social media, we recognize that, instead of filling the world with hate, we can choose to fill it with curiosity, understanding, and love.
—Rabbi Josh Knobel