While any narrative detailing the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash (the Holy Temple) should start with the instant sin entered the world as detailed in Bereshit (Genesis) chapter 3, for the purposes of this narrative, we have chosen to start a mere 140 years before the actual physical act was perpetrated by the Roman's.

In the year 63 BCE the Roman Empire gained control of Israel and the surrounding area and placed procurators (governors) in charge of each of the major providences. Each of these men was responsible for not only keeping the peace and maintaining Roman law and order, but for collecting taxes as well. As the years marched on towards the changing of the era (the transition from BCE to CE) these men became increasingly harsh in their management and increasingly greedy in their collection of taxes. These and other factors gave rise to a group of people in and around Israel called Kanaim (Ka-na-im) or Zealots. This group pushed for the overthrow of the Roman procurator and the end of Roman control of Israel. In early practice, their activities were mainly in political, but events would soon cause this to change.

Around the year 39 CE, Caligula, the current Roman Emperor, declared himself a god and commanded that his statue be erected in every temple in the Roman Empire, including the Beit HaMikdash in Jerusalem. In response, the Kohanim (priests) sent a contingent to Rome to persuade the government against erecting the statue. Their efforts, unfortunately, result in failure and Caligula threatens to destroy the Beit HaMikdash. However, before the mandate can be carried out, Caligula dies suddenly. The Kanaim see this as a sign from HaShem, and increase their rhetoric and their ranks.

Things continue to get worse and in 66 CE, Florus (the current procurator) steals vast amounts of silver from the Beit HaMikdash. The outraged Jews riot and wipe out the small Roman Garrison located in Jerusalem. In response, the procurator of Syria sends more troops, which are also wiped out. The ranks of the Kanaim swell and their rhetoric turns increasingly into violent action. In response, Rome sends 60,000 highly trained, battle tested troops to put an end to the unrest. These troops arrive and lay waste to the most radicalized area of Israel, the Galilee in the north.

As the Roman troops rampage across the Galilee, the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem ignores the repeated, desperate requests for assistance. In response to their lack of action, the survivors of the Galilee massacres make their way to Jerusalem and begin to kill the Jewish Leaders. Brother confronts brother as a bloody civil war breaks out in and around the city. To make things worse, the Roman troops, fresh from their victory in the Galilee, lay siege to Jerusalem. In the summer of 70 CE, the Roman troops successfully breech the walls of Jerusalem and began a campaign of violence and destruction which culminates with the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash.

During the period from 66 to 68 CE just about every moderate Jewish leader in Jerusalem was killed, and not one at the hands of a Roman soldier…all were killed by fellow Jews. It is believed that more Jewish people were killed inside of Jerusalem during this time by fellow Jews than by the Roman soldiers. While the Jewish state most likely could not have survived the Roman onslaught, especially without the divine intervention of HaShem, its destruction was hastened by the hatred enacted by one Jew against another. Hatred that started with words, both true (lashon hora) and untrue (rechillus). Words that HaShem gave the power to create were instead used to destroy. Remember, as you prepare to speak to one-another, especially about one-another, that your words also have power…each time you speak you must choose, you can choose to destroy or you can choose to create.

---Paul McGrane
11 Shevat, 5766