Israeli Women Reflect on the Meaning of the Temple's Destruction on Tisha B'Av
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
On Tisha B'Av, Israeli women from diverse backgrounds discussed the ongoing personal and national impact of the Temple's destruction, sharing stories of loss and resilience while exploring themes of healing and rebuilding.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The program "These Religious Women" examined Tisha B'Av's meaning beyond history, focusing on personal and national loss.
- Shuli Mualem shared how faith helped her cope with her husband's death and continue public work.
- Iris Haim chose love and unity after her son was killed by Israeli forces in October.
- Filmmaker Yehudit Pascal turned her experience of evacuation into art and a healing message.
- Couples therapist Shoshi Biton offered advice on repairing family relationships after crises.
- The panel debated whether Israel faces destruction or repair and the possibility of healing without full consensus.
The Israeli program "These Religious Women," hosted by Ortal Barzilai and Hadar Ben Hamo on Srugim, explored the significance of the destruction of the Temple (Tisha B'Av) as not only a historical event but also a personal, familial, and national experience that continues to resonate in Israeli society today. The episode featured former Knesset member Shuli Mualem, Iris Haim, filmmaker Yehudit Pascal, and couples therapist Shoshi Biton, each sharing unique stories of loss, uprooting, coping, and rebuilding.
Shuli Mualem revisited her childhood home and described how the values and faith she absorbed gave her strength to overcome the profound loss of her husband and continue her public and personal life with hope. Iris Haim spoke about her refusal to say she "lost" her son Yotam, who was kidnapped and killed by Israeli forces on October 7, choosing instead a path of love, compassion, and unity amid great pain.
Yehudit Pascal recalled the evacuation from Gush Katif and Yamit, reflecting on the meaning of losing one’s home and how she transformed her pain into cinematic art and a message of healing. Shoshi Biton provided viewers with practical tools to handle "destruction of the home" in family and couple relationships, explaining how to recognize early cracks and rebuild after severe crises.
The participants also discussed broader societal questions: whether Israel is living in a time of destruction or repair, if healing is possible without full agreement, and whether destruction necessarily marks an end or can be the start of new construction.
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