Grief and Hope on Shabbat Chazon
As we approach Tisha B’Av, one of the saddest days on the Jewish calendar, we enter a period of deep reflection and mourning. This day commemorates numerous tragedies in Jewish history, most notably the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem, first in 586 BCE and then in 70 CE. The days leading up to Tisha B’Av, known as the “Nine Days,” immerse us in a unique form of grief, what experts might call “anticipatory grief.”
Let us first consider the broader concept. We are in a time that not only leads into Tisha B’Av but is also framed by this special Shabbat, known as Shabbat Chazon, the “Shabbat of Vision.” It takes its name from the opening words of the Haftarah, which portrays a vision of Jerusalem destroyed and the Jewish People in Exile. This Shabbat is a moment of profound sadness, a time when we confront the stark reality of loss and devastation.
Yet, even in this somber period, we find profound wisdom in our tradition. Peter Capaldi, the actor who played Doctor Who, once said in the face of great loss, “Things end, and that’s always sad. But things begin again, and that’s always happy.” This resonates deeply with the message of Shabbat Chazon and the lead-up to Tisha B’Av. Yes, it is a sad time. But within our tradition, there is also a vision of renewal — a belief that out of the ashes, something new can emerge. If Shabbat Chazon is here, we know Shabbat Nachamu, a Shabbat of Comfort, is on the horizon.
We are currently living through a time of great pain, not only in remembering past tragedies but also in witnessing ongoing suffering in our world. The pain of those who are displaced, the heartbreak of families torn apart — these are the modern-day echoes of the grief we commemorate on Tisha B’Av.
Jewish wisdom navigates grief through a series of stages. In a more typical loss, Jewish tradition guides us through the immediate mourning rituals, beginning with the burial, moving into Shiva (the first seven days of mourning), then to Sheloshim (the first 30 days), and for the loss of a parent, an extended period of eleven months. Each stage gradually ritually releases us from the intense grip of grief, offering a pathway to healing.
But Tisha B’Av is different. The grief here is anticipatory, layered, and complex. We journey from the three weeks of mourning, to the more intense nine days, and finally to the singular day of Tisha B’Av, where the culmination of our collective sorrow is expressed. This model of anticipatory grief, allows us to prepare for loss, a concept that might seem strange at first but is deeply embedded in our tradition.
The four hallmarks of anticipatory grief (I am grateful here to Rabbi Melanie Levav for her insights on this) — accepting the inevitability of death, feeling concern for the dying, rehearsing the death, and imagining the future — are all present in our approach to Tisha B’Av. Moshe, in Parashat Devarim (which we read every year on Shabbat Chazon), models this acceptance as he acknowledges his own impending death and yet offers a vision for the future of his people. This Shabbat invites us to envision a future even as we confront the painful realities of the present.
As we mark the 308th day since October 7th, a day that brought so much pain to our People, Am Yisrael, we are reminded of the ongoing struggles that continue to affect us. The weight of these tragedies is heavy, but our tradition compels us to look beyond the sorrow, to imagine a future that is brighter and more hopeful. As Elie Wiesel poignantly wrote, “When the world ceases giving Jews reason for hope, Jews invent new reasons for hope.”
So, as we enter Shabbat Chazon and approach Tisha B’Av, let us fully engage with our grief, following the path laid out by our tradition. But let us also dare to envision a future that transcends the darkness of the present. This is the true power of our faith — the ability to hold onto hope, even in the most challenging times.