So on point! I also wanted to add that Bar Kamtza was the son of Kamtza. So when the scene escalated into sinas chinam (baseless hatred) occurring in the month of Av (which means “father”), there is a lesson here about not only sensitivity to others’ needs but also to responsibility of parents to children. Although Bar Kamtza was, indeed, held accountable for his vengeful reaction, so, too, was Kamtza. How so? The answer is Kamtza did not fulfill his parental obligation to teach his son emotion control over impulsivity. According to the Talmud a second lesson was that all who attended the party were also held accountable for not interceding. Even the sages were silent; no one there was sensitive to Bar Kamtza’s plight from the humiliation he experienced. Tisha B’Av above all is a time to go beyond the destruction of buildings to the destruction of relationships and to be-moan the lack of sensitivity that has arisen and continues to this day. It is so true that shifting our thoughts to care for the feelings and emotions of others is the key to rebuilding the Holy Temple brick by brick. May it be soon and in our day.
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So on point! I also wanted to add that Bar Kamtza was the son of Kamtza. So when the scene escalated into sinas chinam (baseless hatred) occurring in the month of Av (which means “father”), there is a lesson here about not only sensitivity to others’ needs but also to responsibility of parents to children. Although Bar Kamtza was, indeed, held accountable for his vengeful reaction, so, too, was Kamtza. How so? The answer is Kamtza did not fulfill his parental obligation to teach his son emotion control over impulsivity. According to the Talmud a second lesson was that all who attended the party were also held accountable for not interceding. Even the sages were silent; no one there was sensitive to Bar Kamtza’s plight from the humiliation he experienced. Tisha B’Av above all is a time to go beyond the destruction of buildings to the destruction of relationships and to be-moan the lack of sensitivity that has arisen and continues to this day. It is so true that shifting our thoughts to care for the feelings and emotions of others is the key to rebuilding the Holy Temple brick by brick. May it be soon and in our day.