Catastrophe is an appropriate word for the Three Weeks. How many have we suffered during this period throughout our history? The walls of Jerusalem broken, the Temple destroyed, our people murdered by the thousands and tens of thousands. We mourn those things.
We are tempted to ask why these things happen, why the innocent suffer, why the good and pure die young and in agony. These questions, though deeply human and sometimes wise, often leave us without solace, because even if we had answers, they would not undo the loss or ease the pain. Most often, we simply don’t know. We can’t know, and knowing wouldn’t fix our problems or erase our pain.
The Rambam writes: “There are days when all of Israel fasts because of the catastrophes that occurred on them – in order to awaken hearts and to open the paths of repentance…”
In other words, we do not respond to catastrophe with questions of why and we do not think of calamities gone by in order to be sad. We respond as best as we can. Sometimes, our response is medical care, working hard to find a new job, calling in the police or the military. At all times, it includes turning to G-d in prayer and changing ourselves for the better. Catastrophe is a question. More importantly, however, it is a catalyst.
