Napolean in disguise on 9 Av

One summer evening Napoleon, the French Emperor, dressed in disguise and set out for the Jews' district to learn about his citizens. The neighborhood was quieter than usual and so thinking that it may be a Jewish Holiday, Napolean went off to the Synagogue to investigate.

Expecting to see festive celebrants, Napolean was surprised to see the Jews crouching on low stools, chanting to a sorrowful tune. It was an atmosphere of mourning with sounds of lamentation filling the air.

"What happened?" Napoleon asked of a Jew."Why are you all crying like that?"

"We are mourning the destruction of our Holy Temple," explained the Jew sadly.

"The destruction of what?" he asked.

"We used to have a Holy Temple," the man continued. "A place where G-d's Divine Presence dwelt. Three times a year we made special pilgrimages to serve Him. But it was destroyed, and that is why we are in mourning."

Napoleon was confused. How could it be that he had not even heard of such a terrible event?

"And who had the audacity to destroy your Temple?" he wanted to know. "The evil Romans", was the reply.

"The Romans?!" Napoleon cried. "Do you mean to tell me that the Romans have invaded our land?"

"No, it wasn't here in France," the man answered. "It was in the Land of Israel, in the holy city of Jerusalem."

"Jerusalem? Hmmmm,. When did this all occur?"

"Eighteen hundred years ago!" he told Napolean.

"Eighteen hundred years ago?" Napoleon sputtered. "Are you saying that all these people are sitting here mourning an occurrence that happened so many hundreds of years ago?"

"We Jews see the destruction of the Temple as the beginning of all our woes". The Jew continued. "It was then that we were exiled from our land, and dispersed among the nations to be persecuted and humiliated. But we also believe," he stated with conviction, "that our Father in Heaven will one day redeem us. At that time He will rebuild the Holy Temple, gather all the Jews from exile and bring us back to our land."

Napoleon then declared, "At first I thought you Jews were peculiar, clinging to your ancient sorrows. But I now see that you are an eternal people. In the end, you will return to your land and rebuild your Holy Temple. I don't know when it will happen: this year, next year, ten years from now or even two hundred. But it will happen one day, of that I have no doubt."