I Have Bought A Zippo Ligher, On Which Is Engraved; "Steal This Lighter"
Yesterday, dear horrible foreign internet, was, by the Jewish Calendar, Tet Be'Av; the ninth day of the month of Av. This is a day set aside for fast, and study, and general lamentation for the fall of the First & Second Temples, respectively 2700+- and 2000 years ago. Also included in the lamentations are sundry other injustices and agonies; the expulsion of the Jews from Spain is said to have been on this date, various massacres, and so on and so forth. None, of course, is as important as the fall of the Temples; and moreso, the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans, for thence began the long Exile of the Jews.
There are many legends regarding the fall of the Second Temple, and one, the shortest and most important, is called "Of Kamtza & Bar Kamtza". Translated loosely, it goes;
Rabi Jochanan Ben Zachai has said; Because of Kamtza and Bar-Kamtza Jerusalem fell. There was in those days a wealthy man in Jerusalem. His friend was 'Kamtza', and his enemy 'Bar-Kamtza'. Said the man; I shall hold a great feast of my friends. Invited he the wisest of the wise. And he told his servant; Bring Kamtza. Brought the servant Bar-Kamtza.
When the wealthy man came to sit at the table, saw he there Bar-Kamtza. He said; What do you here? For we are enemies! Said Bar-Kamtza to he; Since I have already come, I shall eat, I shall drink, and I shall pay you for all. But the wealthy man took Bar-Kamtza by his hand, and ejected him from there.
Said Bar-Kamtza to himself; Two pains have I been caused. The first; That I was invited, and my host ejected me with force and shame. The second; That sat wise men at the table and would not speak, so as not to lose their comfort. With these two pains festering in his heart, went Bar-Kamtza to the Lord of the Romans in Judea.
Lord, he said to him, the Jews rise against you.
There are many legends regarding the fall of the Second Temple, and one, the shortest and most important, is called "Of Kamtza & Bar Kamtza". Translated loosely, it goes;
Rabi Jochanan Ben Zachai has said; Because of Kamtza and Bar-Kamtza Jerusalem fell. There was in those days a wealthy man in Jerusalem. His friend was 'Kamtza', and his enemy 'Bar-Kamtza'. Said the man; I shall hold a great feast of my friends. Invited he the wisest of the wise. And he told his servant; Bring Kamtza. Brought the servant Bar-Kamtza.
When the wealthy man came to sit at the table, saw he there Bar-Kamtza. He said; What do you here? For we are enemies! Said Bar-Kamtza to he; Since I have already come, I shall eat, I shall drink, and I shall pay you for all. But the wealthy man took Bar-Kamtza by his hand, and ejected him from there.
Said Bar-Kamtza to himself; Two pains have I been caused. The first; That I was invited, and my host ejected me with force and shame. The second; That sat wise men at the table and would not speak, so as not to lose their comfort. With these two pains festering in his heart, went Bar-Kamtza to the Lord of the Romans in Judea.
Lord, he said to him, the Jews rise against you.