If I forget thee, O’ Jerusalem …

The article discusses the Jewish observance of the Nine Days, a period of mourning culminating in Tisha B'Av, which commemorates the destruction of both Holy Temples in Jerusalem. The First Temple was destroyed in 586 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar, and the Second Temple in 70 C.E. by the Roman Empire under Titus. The author addresses the question of why Jews continue to mourn events from millennia ago, explaining that remembering these destructions and the aspiration for Jerusalem's rebuilding is central to Jewish survival and identity. The article highlights a story of a Torah scholar in a concentration camp who, facing death, prioritized the completion of Talmudic study, illustrating the enduring focus on heritage. The author recounts a personal experience of visiting the Arch of Titus in Rome, asserting the continued existence and thriving of the Jewish people in Jerusalem and worldwide, in contrast to the vanished empires that sought to destroy them. The piece concludes by emphasizing that remembering Jerusalem ensures its future joy and revival, stating, "Whoever mourns for Jerusalem will merit to see her joy."