According to Jewish history, five terrible catastrophes (as if there are any other kind) happened on this day, over the course of many years, but the one I remember learning about most in school was that on this day, the walls of Jerusalem were breached, prior to the destruction of the second Temple.
But you know what else happened today?
My oldest - who will turn 13 on his Hebrew birthday this week - fasted. All the day long. And he - literally - did not complain once. I don't know what that was about because the fast day before I turned 12, my uncle offered me $20 to fast all day long, and $20 was a fortune a hundred years ago, and I still had a hard day. Not this kid. He seemed to breeze through it, quietly doing his own thing. WHO IS THIS KID?
I know that future fast days, like the one coming up in three weeks, Tisha B'Av, may not go as smoothly because the novelty will have likely worn off, but all I can say is that I am super-impressed with this kid who seems to be impressing me on a daily basis this summer.
Maybe parenting a teenage won't be so bad? Maybe? Anyone?
:)
jen