Ottawa, Canada – Canadian Minister of National Defense and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney has released an official statement commemorating Tisha B’Av. The statement, which was published yesterday (Friday) invited his fellow citizens to remembering the way Jews have been mistreated.
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Following an explanation of the history and customs of the fast day, Kenney wrote: “Tomorrow at sundown marks the beginning of Tisha B’av, an annual day of mourning, fasting, and remembrance in the Jewish calendar.
“Falling on the ninth day of the month of Av, Tisha B’av marks the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. More than six centuries later on the same date, the Second Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.
“The date also marks the occurrence of several other tragedies, including the destruction of Jerusalem in 136, the expulsions of the Jewish community of England in 1290 and of Spain in 1492, and the beginning of the mass deportations of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942.
“On Tisha B’av, Jewish communities around the world will fast and pray to remember these historical wrongs on what is considered the ‘saddest day in Jewish history.’
“Tomorrow I will join with the Jewish community in remembering and mourning the oppression, violence, and suffering that the Jewish people have experienced throughout history, and I encourage all Canadians to do the same.”
חסיד אומות העולם – very much appreciated andn this century!!!
Obama, did you hear that? Instead your wish is to destroy us with your horrific Iran deal!!!
Mr. Kenney’s gesture and sentiments are much appreciated.
On a side note, the first Temple was destroyed around 425-422 BCE, not 586 BCE. (That’s what happens when one relies too much on Wikipedia and the rest of the internet for the “facts”)